Georgia: Shukruti residents protest against Georgian Manganese demanding compensation for damaged housing; co. denies allegations
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In March 2024, residents of Shukruti village in Western Georgia began protesting outside the Chiatura mine entrance, demanding compensation from Georgian Manganese for houses allegedly damaged and destroyed by mining activities.
In early August 2024, the Sachkhere District Court banned the demonstrators from protesting after LTD Magharoeli, a subsidiary of Georgian Manganese, filed a case against them. Later that month, the protesters relocated from Chiatura to Chorvila village, where they were met by a large police presence and locals who prevented them from protesting.
In September, LTD Magharoeli dismissed three workers who had participated in the protests. Several demonstrators sewed their mouths shut and announced a hunger strike. By mid-September, the protesters had moved to Tbilisi, where they held an overnight demonstration in front of the Parliament. Protests continued in Tbilisi through the end of September.
Georgian Manganese claimed to have reasonable suspicions that the protesters were backed by NGOs and media organisations directly linked to radical political parties, which they allege were using the protests to further narrow party interests.