In March 2024, Malkhaz Labadze, a railway worker at Magharoeli LLC, a subsidiary of Georgian Manganese, along with his colleagues, joined protests initiated by Shukruti residents demanding compensation for damaged and destroyed housing caused by Georgian Manganese's mining activities. As part of the protests, they prevented workers from entering and operating in mines owned by Magharoeli LLC.

In response, Magharoeli LLC filed complaints with the police against the protest participants, accusing them of disrupting mine operations. Following these complaints, the Chiatura police launched an investigation. On July 31, Malkhaz Labadze was formally charged by the Prosecutor's Office. As of September 12, the pre-trial hearing has not yet taken place.

On September 2, Malkhaz Labadze and two of his colleagues, Giorgi Tsartsidze and Roman Megrelishvili were dismissed by the company, which accused them of disrupting work processes and causing damage.