12 Septrmber 2024

Demonstrators from Shukruti, who have been protesting for almost six months to raise awareness of the damage caused by manganese mining under their village, have moved their protest to Tbilisi. Police did not allow them to set up their tent in front of the parliament building.

...[S]everal dozen demonstrators arrived in Tbilisi from the village of Shukruti, west Georgia. They asked the state to pay attention to their problems and their protest.

Residents of Shukruti have been actively protesting for several years to raise awareness of the damage caused by Georgian Manganese, the company that owns the license to operate mines in the Chiatura region. In particular, the residents have spoken out about how mining has destroyed houses and spoiled the land for agriculture. The protestors also claim that Georgian Manganese did not pay adequate compensation for any of this damage.

Among the participants of the protest, seven people were on their twelfth day of hunger strike. Five of them had additionally sewed their lips together as part of their protest action.

After arriving in Tbilisi, the demonstrators appealed to around three dozen people who were gathered in front of the parliament building, as well as to the general public and the central government, with a request that they pay attention to their protest.

The demonstrators also asked the government to get involved in the mediation process, and make the company fulfill their demands...

Though police rejected their request to pitch a tent in front of the parliament building, the demonstrators did not leave, and instead spent the night outside in the open air. 

The government has not commented on the calls and requests of the demonstrators.