A protest rally drawing thousands took place in the center of Georgia’s Kutaisi, with participants demanding a halt to the construction of a hydroelectric power plant on the Rioni River, as well as the resignation of the country’s Economy Minister Natia Turnava. This was reported by RIA Novosti, citing the Rustavi-2 television channel.
“Our main demand is to cancel the government’s decision providing for the transfer of the Rioni plain to a foreign investor. The second demand is to cancel the contract signed with the Enka company. Third, all documents issued since 2015 must be annulled, and finally, Economy Minister Natia Turnava must resign,” said the rally’s organizer, speaking at the gathering.
According to him, part of those gathered intends to spend the night in tents set up in the central square.
Activists have been protesting for four months against the construction of the Namakhvani HPP. They have set up a tent city in the construction zone, where work is being carried out by the Turkish company Enka.
As the protesters maintain, dozens of residential homes and forests are located in the area slated for construction, and the HPP’s construction will have an impact on the climate.
