Colleagues of a deceased miner in Chiatura reported poor working conditions.

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At the Shukruti mine in Chiatura, miner Dzheyran Aslandia died. According to colleagues, his death was related to poor ventilation. The employer claims the man died after his shift in the tunnel, where he was waiting to be lifted to the surface.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," miners in Chiatura went on strike in 2024, demanding decent pay and improved working conditions. They then moved to street protests, joined by their family members. In June of that year, they reached an agreement with company management, which promised to increase their wages. However, in November, they held protests again, claiming that wages were insufficient for a normal life. They resumed protests in February 2025, when they were notified of their layoffs. In May, they were informed that one of the closed mines was reopening.

At the Shukruti manganese mine in Chiatura, miner Jeyran Aslandia died during his shift, Novosti-Gruzia reported on March 28, citing his colleague Tariel Mikatsadze.

According to colleagues, the incident occurred late in the evening of March 25. Mikatsadze claims that his colleague's death was related to poor working conditions in the mine, specifically inadequate ventilation. "We're told he died of a heart attack, but we've long been saying there's no proper ventilation in the mine. This causes a lack of air, people get sick, and fatalities like this occur," the publication quotes him as saying.

The mine operator, Chiatura Management Company, stated that Aslandia died after his shift ended, in the tunnel where employees wait to board a mine car to the surface. The company's statement clarified that it was not an industrial injury.

Previously, the "Caucasian Knot" also reported that on April 29, 2025, three miners and a Chiatura resident were detained after a conflict with Shukruti mine director Tengiz Koberidze. Those detained are miners Merab Saralidze, Giorgi Nefaridze (also referred to in the media as Neparidze), and Archil Chumburidze, as well as Tengiz Gvelesiani. An investigation has been opened under Article 118 of the Georgian Criminal Code (serious harm to health). In January, the court sentenced them to prison.