(Read the full article on Civil.ge)

The half-year-long protest against the construction of Namakhvani HPP in western Georgia’s Rioni Valley has shifted to the capital, as Save Rioni Gorge activists organized today a massive demonstration in downtown Tbilisi, Civil.ge reported.

The activists arrived from Kutaisi city in the afternoon, meeting up with their supporters in Tbilisi, where they rallied on the First Republic Square and presented their demands.

Activist leader Varlam Goletiani called for terminating the state’s contract with Namakhvani HPP investor, launching probes into officials involved in drafting and signing the document, including Economy Minister Natia Turnava, and imposing a moratorium on similar projects until a coordinated energy policy is developed.

If the Georgian authorities do not meet the demands by noon tomorrow, “we will paralyze the capital city completely,” Goletiani declared.

“The fight begins here and now, and we will see it through until [the issue] is decided in favour of the people,” he said, calling on supporters to brace for long-term, “rational” and strategic efforts against the Namakhvani HPP construction. Goletiani stressed that civic engagement and protests are necessary to hold the authorities accountable.

Another activist leader Marita Museliani said the Save Rioni Gorge movement had to resort to the “extreme demands” after the two dialogue efforts with the authorities proved unsuccessful.

Museliani reassured the crowd that the activists want the protest to remain calm, and do not plan to take measures such as “overthrowing the government,” if the authorities refuse their demands. “We do not want to take responsibility for a process that will get out of our hands,” she said.

Activists set up tents and plan to remain on the First Republic Square until the government makes its position known on their demands.