People gather in Tbilisi to protest Namakhvani HPP construction
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, May 24
Protesters gathered in Tbilisi to rally against the construction of the Namakhvani HPP cascade. Activists have been protesting the construction of the HPP cascade for several months now and say they will not stop until their demands are met.
According to one of the activists, Varlam Goletiani, if the demands of protesters are not met, they are ready to paralyze the city. Addressing protesters, Goletiani said that they are demanding the resignation of the Economy Minister Natia Turnava who, he said, should be held accountable for the ongoing events.
Protestors demand:
- Enka leaves the Rioni gorge
- The agreement between Enka and the state be terminated along with all the other agreements issued since 2015 regarding the HPP.
- A moratorium in the energy sector.
- Minister of Economy resigns and everyone involved in the preparation of the HPP documentation be held accountable.
“Resolving the issue requires our unity and abundance, and this has been achieved today. So, the fight begins here and now. We wil fight until everything is resolved in favor of the people,” said Goletiani.
The decision to hold a rally in Tbilisi was made after an agreement between the government and activists was not reached. The government offered a moratorium on the construction of the HPP for a year, however, activists said that the preparatory work had not stopped.
The protests initially started in Namakhvani, where protests have been ongoing non-stop for the past several months. They say that in addition to the environmental threat, the government has relinquished state interests.
The ruling party insist on the importance of Namakhvani HPP cascade. The Ministry of Economy has stated many times that this project is “one of the most necessary steps for the country's energy independence and security.”
