Namahvanhesi rally in Tbilisi [Live]

The "Namahvanikhesi" protest rally at Republic Square continues in Tbilisi.

The demands of the protest action include:

• Cancellation of the agreement signed on April 25, 2019 between the Georgian government and Enka Renewables on the construction of a hydroelectric power plant on the territory of the Namakhvanikhesi Park in Mtskheta-Mtianeti and transfer of the management of the park to the district;
• cancellation of the permit for the construction of a hydroelectric power plant, issued in 2015 at the cascade of waterfalls "Namakhvanikhesi" and all related documents.

As the protest movement intensified, on March 12, 2021, Georgia's Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava announced that Namakhvanikhesi had reached an agreement with an investor under which construction of the waterfalls cascade would be suspended until major environmental and hydrological studies are conducted. Construction work will be suspended for 9-12 months.