11:43, 12 April 2021

Police remove tents of opponents of Namakhvan HPP

Participants of a protest action on the road leading to the construction area of the Namakhvan hydroelectric power plant. Screenshot: JAMnews

Law enforcers have banned setting up tents by protesters against the construction of the Namakhvan hydroelectric power plant (HPP), arguing that the Rioni River is overflowing its banks.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 4, opponents of the construction of the Namakhvan HPP on the Rioni River in Western Georgia set up tents near the village of Gumati and announced their intention to hold a large-scale action in Tbilisi.

Protests against the construction of the Namakhvan HPP continue for almost six months. On March 29, the Prime Minister of Georgia announced that the construction of the Namakhvan HPP would be suspended for 9-12 months in order to thoroughly check its impact on the environment. However, on April 4, the preparatory works for the construction of the Namakhvan cascade of hydroelectric power plants were resumed despite Georgian authorities' promises.

On April 11, the police dismantled the protesters' tents; after which they blocked the road with their cars and demanded from law enforcers to indicate a place where they could set up their tents, the Georgian Public Broadcaster has reported.

However, they were not allowed to set up tents anywhere. The police boss, who met the protesters, explained the ban by the fact that the Rioni River was overflowing the banks, and the area could be flooded.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 12, 2021 at 03:36 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Galina Gotua

Source: CK correspondent