Georgian Minister of Economy Natia Turnava and Minister of Environment Protection Levan Davitashvili met with the Guardians of the Rioni Gorge movement in the village of Namakhvani on March 5.

Protesters claim they “protect Georgian land and the future of their children” when protesting against the cascade’s construction.

“You are late, gentlemen. The riot police outrun you twice, and it was very insulting for us when the riot police were protecting the foreign citizens, not us. We are defending our land, not only for us but also for you and your children. Where are you going to live?” Maka Suladze, a member of the Guardians of the Rioni Gorge movement, told Natia Turnava and Levan Davitashvili.

Natia Turnava explained the Georgian government acts in the interests of the country.

The non-governmental sector sees the agreement between the Georgian government and the Turkish company ENKA Renewables Ltd as favourable for the investor and believes construction poses several risks.

The Georgian government and ENKA Renewables Ltd signed a perpetual build-own-operate agreement back in 2019. ENKA has been awarded the rights to develop, construct, own and operate the Namakhvani HPP Cascade Project in Georgia.