08:17, 13 April 2021

Clashes with police break out in Namakhvani

Participants of a protest action on the road leading to the construction area of the Namakhvan hydroelectric power plant, March 4, 2021. Screenshot: JAMnews

Policemen have set up a cordon and would not let protesters against the construction of the hydroelectric power plant (HPP) near the village of Namakhvani, who tried to break through the cordon. One of the women-defenders of the Rioni River Gorge lost consciousness in the clash.

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 a large-scale action scheduled in Tbilisi. Law enforcers dismantled the tents, explaining their actions by the fact that the Rioni River is overflowing its banks.

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 12, protesters tried to enter the village of Namakhvani. In the morning, in the village of Gumati, protesters blocked the road with their cars and demanded to let them enter the gorge. Law enforcers have set up barriers, the "InterPressNews" has reported.

The confrontation resulted in clashes with the police; a young woman, who took part in the protest, has fainted in the crowd, the "Georgia Online" has reported.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 12, 2021 at 06:26 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.