Poverty, lawlessness and... Turks: Tbilisi is gripped by mass protests
The confrontation between opponents of the construction of the Namakhvani hydroelectric power station and the Georgian government, which has lasted more than six months, has moved to the streets of Tbilisi. Participants in the protest action blocked traffic on the Embankment near the House of Justice, and then moved to the central avenue of the Georgian capital.
A special correspondent of PolitNavigator in Tbilisi reports this from the scene.
The protesters issued an ultimatum to the authorities, in which they demand to cancel the contract between the government and the Turkish contracting company ENKA for the construction of a hydroelectric power station on the Rioni River in Imereti (Western Georgia), dismiss the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Natia Turnava and declare a temporary moratorium on projects carried out in the country’s energy sector.
“Let's stand next to each other. We are people and must unite without any divisions along various lines. In order to do a good deed for Georgia, we do not need symbols,” said one of the protest leaders, Varlaam Goletiani.
The paradox of the situation is that today Tbilisi lives in what has already become its usual rhythm with protests, tent cities, and blocking of streets and squares. The Rioni Gorge Defenders movement warned that if demands are not met by May 26, the scale of protests will increase.
So what caused people's protests in this case?
First of all, there is an acute lack of trust in the authorities! Over the years of independence, the population has heard a lot of loud promises from various authorities guaranteeing increased prosperity, economic growth and many benefits. But the harsh reality refuted all these good intentions with unenviable consistency.
A particular cause of concern on the part of the population is the participation of a Turkish company in the project. The quality of work of Turkish companies in a variety of fields, and especially in construction, causes a huge number of complaints. Everyone remembers the incident in the new airport building when, after the usual rain, it turned into a flooded swimming pool. In the event of an accident at the dam, it will no longer be the airport, but the entire region of Imereti (Western Georgia), which will lead to a huge number of victims and a large-scale national disaster. But even if this does not happen, today many people are not only alarmed, but downright frightened that the entire territory of the Rioni River gorge is transferred to the Turks for 99 years.
The dominance of Turkish capital in the Georgian economy is not just off the charts - it goes beyond all conceivable limits. Already today, doubts are arising about the statehood of the Adjara region. Formally, it is still considered part of Georgia, but in fact, the Turks have been in control of everything in it for a long time. Many of them, in order to get home to the eastern regions of Turkey, fly to Batumi and from there travel by road without any customs inspections at the border.
A very interesting point arises with the sale of real estate in Adjara. Citizens from other regions of Georgia and a significant number of foreigners have almost stopped buying it. The reason for this behavior is the possibility of a change in the jurisdiction of Adjara, its transition to Turkey. Politicians can sing about anything in sweet voices, but ordinary citizens are already beginning to have serious doubts, which are by no means groundless.
The capital of Adjara is Batumi.
Unfortunately, today such projects very often bring personal benefits to the political elite, who lobby for them using all sorts of methods. This can be called direct corruption, colonial policy - the essence of the matter does not change because of this.
But broad sections of the population are left with only difficulties and problems, ever-increasing poverty and lack of rights. It is as if he is being deliberately pushed towards the only choice - fleeing abroad. Yes, and they pay a pittance, but this, as they say, is a topic for another conversation.
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