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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

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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

Zviad Papidze, Jaba Macharashvili, Jubo Tsutskiridze, Giorgi Bitsadze, Beka Neparidze, and Amiran Shekiladze were on a hunger strike for 43 days. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.
Chiatura Manganese Mine

Shukrutians end hunger strike in Tbilisi after mining company agrees to negotiations

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Residents of the village of Shukruti who have been protesting the destruction of their village outside the Georgian parliament have agreed to end their hunger strike after 43 days, to begin negotiations with the mining company.  The Chiatura Management Company, which runs the mines in and around the central Georgian town of Chiatura, agreed to begin negotiations with the protesters after the government intervened. On Sunday, Rati Ionatamashvili, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, me

Podcast | Shukruti’s last stand against Georgian Manganese
Chiatura Manganese Mines

Podcast | Shukruti’s last stand against Georgian Manganese

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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

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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.

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

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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

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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

Jumber Tsutskiridze, Giorgi Bitsadze and Amiran Shekiladze sewed their mouths on Sunday. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.
Chiatura Manganese Mines

Three in Shukruti sew lips shut in protest against manganese mining

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On Sunday, three protesters from the village of Shukruti sewed their lips shut in an attempt to attract attention to their protest against the damage manganese mining is causing to their homes. This latest action follows more than five months of continuous protest by local residents. Sunday morning was gloomy in the protest tent. People had been gathering since the early hours, knowing that some of the protesters had made the decision to take the extreme measure of sewing their lips shut.  W

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