The Gakharia for Georgia party has issued a statement regarding the miners’ protest, accusing the government of years of deception through unfulfilled promises.

“The miners’ working conditions, wages, and health security have been subject to constant speculation, while affected families in Shukruti continue to face unresolved problems.

The opaque privatization of the Chiatura mine and alleged corrupt dealings by the state-appointed special manager failed to meet their intended goals and instead created a local elite benefiting at the expense of the workers. As a result, profits from the enterprise have served only a select few.

Today, this mismanagement has reached a dead end—Chiatura mines are shut down, and employees are left without income. This crisis extends beyond Chiatura, affecting thousands of workers at the Zestaponi ferroalloy plant. If left unaddressed, the Zestaponi enterprise may cease operations entirely, deepening the region’s social and economic problems.

Our party fully supports the fair demands of Chiatura’s workers. Earlier this year, we formally requested the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate why state intervention in the enterprise failed to meet its objectives. For years, we have advocated for the ‘re-nationalization’ of the enterprise—temporarily returning it to state ownership, ensuring financial recovery, and later transferring shares to the municipality and employees. This approach, reflected in our election program, remains the only viable solution to protect Chiatura’s workforce and similar enterprises.”

The statement concludes with an appeal to the ruling Georgian Dream party: “Stop political manipulation at the miners’ expense, address the population’s demands transparently, and resolve this crisis before it threatens not only Chiatura but the social stability of the entire region.”