On 23 May, thousands of protesters gathered in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, setting up tents to block First Republic Square in an effort to stop the construction of the Namakhvani hydropower plant (HPP). 

The protesters demanded: 1) the departure of the Turkish construction company ENKA Renewables from the Rioni Gorge; 2) the termination of the agreement between ENKA and the Georgian government and cancelation of all documents issued since 2015; 3) a moratorium on HPPs; and 4) the resignation of Georgia’s Economy Minister Natia Turnava. Protesters made the decision to move to Tbilisi after the government effectively locked down most of the Rioni valley last month. The protests are being led by the Rioni Valley Defenders; a grassroots movement opposed to the dam. “If our demands are not met, we will picket and paralyse the capital,” said Varlam Goletiani, the leader of the movement. Goletiani emphasised that the protesters were not going to compromise with the government and that all methods have been exhausted by now. 

The country’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili responded to the protesters’ demands, saying that using ultimatums was categorically unacceptable for him. “We did our best to provide maximum information to our citizens. We also offered our citizens a suitable dialogue format. There were numerous attempts on our part. In addition, we invited the EU Special Representative who will once again examine in detail all the nuances and details of this project. In addition, I instructed the Ministry of Justice to study the compliance of the project with international practice by an independent law firm. Therefore, there should be no questions asked. At the end of the month, I’ll meet the investor company owner,” he emphasised.

ENKA also released a public statement, saying that they were ready to continue discussions with all relevant stakeholders regarding the project. “We would like to state with full responsibility that the opinion of both the residents of Rioni Gorge and each citizen of Georgia is important to us. We recognise our share of responsibility to the public and once again publicly declare our readiness to continue the business discussion with all stakeholders. We believe that the most important thing today is to use any business format, all opportunities for dialogue, so as not to leave unanswered any problematic questions and based on facts and arguments to assure you that the Namakhvani project is a Georgian affair that serves the well-being of Rioni Valley residents and the country,” the statement read.  

The EU ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell also responded to developments regarding the dam. “I call on the sides to start a dialogue and create a platform where all actors will be involved. I think transparency is important to have a solid assessment of what lies at stake. I welcome the involvement of the Secretary of Energy Security Council. It was perceived positively by both sides. I hope the process will move forward,” he stated.

On 10 May, Turnava announced that the construction of the Namakhvani HPP in western Georgia, in particular the dam, would be suspended for the next 12 months, adding that major studies will be re-verified and validated regarding the project (Caucasus Watch reported). However, reports emerged that the construction has appeared to have continued the project, which ENKA Renewables has described as “preparatory work.” Opponents have responded that such work was part of the original plan, and that therefore there was no moratorium on halting the construction in effect after all.