Chiatura Manganese Mines

Mines built during the Soviet-era have left a lasting impact on the central Georgian town of Chiatura. In recent years, the mines have faced frequent labour strikes, and protests over the collapse of the nearby villages of Shukruti and Itkhvisi.

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The Zestaponi Ferroalloy Plant in May 2014. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.

Chiatura Manganese Mines

Georgian Manganese to stop work at Chiatura mines and ferroalloy plant

by OC Media

•2 min read

The Zestaponi Ferroalloy Plant and all manganese mines in Chiatura, both owned by the mining company Georgian Manganese, have temporarily stopped work until 1 March 2025. On Thursday, Georgian Manganese published a statement saying that until 1 March, a temporary management regime would operate at the Zestaponi Ferroalloy Plant. The plant is Georgia’s largest silicomanganese processing plant. Georgian Manganese is the largest mining and ferroalloy manufacturing company in Georgia, where

Protesters packing up to leave after camping out in front of Georgia’s parliament building for 43 days. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.

Chiatura Manganese Mines

Shukruti demonstrators leave Tbilisi after fruitless protest

by OC Media

•2 min read

Residents of Shukruti protesting against Georgian Manganese have ended their protest in Tbilisi after two weeks of unsuccessful negotiations. The protesters had demanded an assessment by the National Forensics Bureau of their property, as well as to receive adequate compensation from the company for the destruction of their homes during mining operations under the village in Chiatura, western Georgia. One of the protesters, Tamuna Kupatadze, told OC Media that they could not agree with th

Chiatura Manganese Mines

Podcast | Shukruti’s last stand against Georgian Manganese

by OC Media

•2 min read

The residents of Shukruti, a village in Georgia’s western Chiatura region, have been protesting mining under their village carried out by Georgian Manganese for years. In September, they relocated their protest to Georgia’s Parliament in Tbilisi, demanding that the government intervene in their dispute with the mining company. Those protesting around the clock in front of parliament are constantly exposed to the elements as the weather grows colder, with at least six of th

Shukruti protesters sleeping under rain outside the parliament. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.

Chiatura Manganese Mines

Dying on the steps of parliament — Georgia’s Shukrutians make last bid for their homes

by Mariam Nikuradze

•7 min read

After over a month on hunger strike, mostly on the steps of Georgia’s parliament, residents of the village of Shukruti are facing declining health and plummeting temperatures, with little hope of saving their village from destruction. ‘I don’t think I’ll witness my child growing up. I don’t have much energy left in me, maybe a few days? I don’t know’, says Giorgi Bitsadze, 33. Bitsadze has always been the funny one, cracking endless jokes to friends, family, and anyone he happens to meet.

Protest of Shukruti residents outside the parliament. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.

Chiatura Manganese Mines

Georgian Manganese–linked company attacks critics and media covering Shukruti hunger strike

by OC Media

•6 min read

A company that has been linked to mining firm Georgian Manganese has claimed that people on hunger strike over the destruction of their homes are being ‘fully managed’ by NGOs and media organisations, including OC Media. Chiatura Management Company stated on Thursday that they had ‘reasonable suspicions’ that the demonstrators were ‘backed by non-governmental organisations that are also directly connected to radical political parties, which in turn use the protests for their own narrow party i

Residents of Shukruti hold banners during the protest in front of the Georgian parliament on 11 September. Photo: Tata Shoshiashvili/OC Media.

Chiatura Manganese Mines

Mining company files 30 new lawsuits against Shukruti residents

by OC Media

•3 min read

Manganese mining company Magharoeli LLC has filed lawsuits against 30 residents in the village of Shukruti, demanding that the residents pay a total of ₾5.5 million ($2.1 million), as well as restricting their property rights. The Shukruti residents’ lawyer, Lado Kutateladze, told OC Media that they only found out about the lawsuits on Monday, adding that this latest series of cases aimed to pressure Shukruti residents to end their protest against mining operations under their village.

Residents of Shukruti hold a banner saying ‘To save village Shukruti’. Photo: Tata Shoshiashvili/OC Media.

Chiatura Manganese Mines

Shukruti residents arrive in Tbilisi to continue protest against manganese mining

by OC Media

•3 min read

Demonstrators from Shukruti, who have been protesting for almost six months to raise awareness of the damage caused by manganese mining under their village, have moved their protest to Tbilisi. Police did not allow them to set up their tent in front of the parliament building. On Wednesday evening, several dozen demonstrators arrived in Tbilisi from the village of Shukruti, west Georgia. They asked the state to pay attention to their problems and their protest. Residents of Shukruti have bee

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Chiatura Manganese Mines

Georgian Manganese to stop work at Chiatura mines and ferroalloy plant

Shukruti demonstrators leave Tbilisi after fruitless protest

Podcast | Shukruti’s last stand against Georgian Manganese

Dying on the steps of parliament — Georgia’s Shukrutians make last bid for their homes

Georgian Manganese–linked company attacks critics and media covering Shukruti hunger strike

Mining company files 30 new lawsuits against Shukruti residents

Shukruti residents arrive in Tbilisi to continue protest against manganese mining

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