Vake Park (Dato Parulava / OC Media)
Green activists and their supporters gathered in Vake Park in Tbilisi on 27 January to celebrate the end of an almost six-year battle to halt construction of a hotel in the park. [Read more…]
'My city is killing me', participant of the September 2018 rally against air pollution, Tbilisi. (Shota Kincha/OC Media)
Air pollution is the number one environmental concern in Georgia, according to a new poll released by NDI. The poll showed a growing awareness of environmental topics in Georgia, with the capital Tbilisi leading the way. [Read more…]
Protest in Pankisi Valley (Sulkhan Bordzikashvili /Facebook)
Opponents of hydropower plant construction in Georgia’s Pankisi Valley have complained that the authorities have been applying pressure on activists to cease their opposition. A protest was held on Friday in Duisi, the largest village in the valley, against the construction of three new hydroelectric power stations. [Read more…]
Pesticide dump in Jrarat (Galust Nanyan /OC Media)
In many rural communities in Armenia, farmers continue to make use pesticides banned in the country over 30 years ago. Stashed in basements, sheds, and Soviet–era warehouses from before the ban came in, these toxic substances continue to threaten the health and well-being of Armenians. [Read more…]
Coverage of the attack on Rustavi 2.
Far-right group the March of Georgians attacked three journalists from Rustavi 2 on Monday afternoon in Tbilisi. The attack was in response to an on-air joke by anchor Giorgi Gabunia about former Georgian Prime Minister, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, his tree-collecting hobby, and Jesus Christ. [Read more…]
A new pipe at the plant. (Alina Bigayeva /OC Media)
Residents of North Ossetia’s capital Vladikavkaz have long sounded the alarm at the environmental condition of their city. Many blame Electrozinc, a metallurgical plant located inside the city. But there is another side of the coin, and for the factory’s 2,000 employees, their very livelihoods depend on the plant. [Read more…]
(Vafa Zeynalova /OC Media)
Baku is the largest and one of the most polluted cities in the South Caucasus. Seven percent of the city’s territory is occupied by dumps. One of the largest rubbish processing plants in Europe has operated in the city for five years, but this has not solved the problem. [Read more…]
Ilia Tchavchavadze and Akaki Tsereteli (Goga Chanadiri)
A number of statues in Tbilisi were covered with face masks overnight on 28 November, reportedly to protest air pollution in the capital. Images of masked statues emerged online on 29 November, leading to public debate over whether it was an insult to those who the statues symbolise. [Read more…]
Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili (Official photo)
Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has announced plans to merge a number of ministries, cutting down on the total number by four. The changes are being accompanied by a Cabinet reshuffle. [Read more…]
(Temo Baratashvili /Facebook)
Green activists are protesting the possible cutting down of up to 71 trees at a Tbilisi construction site. Local activist group Guerrilla Gardening Tbilisi expressed concern after being alerted that a number of trees had already been cut down near Vazha-Pshavela Avenue. [Read more…]
