Georgian miners on strike

Workers of Mindeli Mine, located in the city of Tkibuli, went on strike in protest against the arrest by the Prosecutor's Office of two managers on their suspected guilt of the explosion in the mine, which happened on January 22.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that one person was lost and four were injured by the explosion at night on January 22 in the coal mine in Tkibuli, Western Georgia.

The strikers demand to release Edem Sturua, one of bay managers, and Giorgi Devdariani, deputy head of the ventilation service, detained by prosecutors.

The miners assert that no the detainees, but the suffered miners themselves, now treated at the Tbilisi Burns Centre, are guilty of what happened. The strikers are not going to return to work until the detainees are released.

Zaza Gordeziani, technical director of the "Gruzugol" Company, confirmed that at present the work of the mine is suspended, the "Georgia Online" reports.

Let us remind you that on January 23 a technical supervision group of the Ministry of Economy of Georgia came to Tkibuli. Specialists study the circumstances of the explosion in Mindeli Mine.

In his turn, President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili stated that he did not believe the first conclusion that the perished miner was to blame for the explosion.