Mine workers in Chiatura stage protests, supervision initiated by law enforcement
📣 Breaking News from Chiatura!
Things are heating up at the mines in Chiatura municipality, as authorities move in to assess the situation amid ongoing worker protests.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has announced that specialists and representatives from Georgian Manganese's subsidiary, Chiatura Management Company LLC, will be on-site on April 30 to evaluate the Korokhnali, Shukruti, Itkhvisi, and Darkveti mines.
In a recent statement, the Ministry acknowledged, "Some of the employees in the mines in Chiatura Municipality have been expressing protests." Concerned about maintaining law and order and ensuring safety, they've mobilized security personnel on site.
The unrest has centered around working conditions, although specific demands haven't been publicly disclosed yet. The Ministry appealed to demonstrators to act lawfully, warning that any legal transgressions would warrant a prompt response from the police.
Lately, there have been a few dramatic developments: on April 29, four protesting miners were arrested on charges related to an altercation with the Shukruti mine's director, Tengiz Koberidze. This has fueled further protests and calls for public support. These four miners are Giorgi Neparidze, Merab Saralidze, Tengiz Gvelesiani, and Archil Chumburidze.
Moreover, six miners have already commenced a hunger strike, with one miner, Irakli Jikidze, taking the extreme step of a dry hunger strike. This requires immediate medical attention.
The Chiatura Management Company plans to reorganize and resume production, though they admit that underground mining operations will not resume due to financial constraints.
Miners demand government intervention to resolve the crisis, focusing on addressing unpaid salaries and resuming manganese mining operations. They're also voicing concerns about the potential environmental impact if the industry switches to open-pit mining.
Authorities have deployed police to monitor the protests, and the situation remains tense, with persistent demonstrations against the mining company. Despite pressure to intervene, the government has yet to announce any substantial actions to directly address the miners' demands. This unrest in Chiatura is part of a broader wave of political discontent in Georgia, with tensions surrounding various government policies.
Stay tuned for more updates on this unfolding story! 👀🔱⛛️
- The protests in Chiatura's mines persist, with miners demanding government intervention, including the resolution of unpaid salaries and the resumption of manganese mining operations, while expressing concerns about potential environmental impacts from a switch to open-pit mining.
- Representatives from Georgian Manganese's subsidiary, Chiatura Management Company LLC, will evaluate the Korokhnali, Shukruti, Itkhvisi, and Darkveti mines on April 30 to maintain the industry's financial stability and ensure safety standards are met.
- Authorities appeal to the demonstrators to act lawfully, while also mobilizing security personnel to maintain order and address the ongoing unrest, as four miners face charges related to an altercation with the Shukruti mine's director, and several miners, including Irakli Jikidze on dry hunger strike, require immediate medical attention.
