UNM opposition accuses Enguri HPP Director of confiscating IDs, talks with occupiers to prevent IDPs’ participation in elections

Ana Tsitlidze, head of the United National Movement’s regional representation in Zugdidi, has accused Levan Mebonia, the Director of Enguri Hydro Power Plant, of confiscating identification documents from pro-opposition employees to obstruct their participation in the October 26 general elections.

Tsitlidze also claimed that Mebonia was negotiating with Russian occupation forces to close the Enguri Bridge on October 24-26, which would prevent internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the Russian-occupied Abkhazia region from voting.

Responding to these allegations, the Enguri HPP administration denied the claims, calling them “entirely false and misleading.” The administration further claimed, “This is a blatant lie, this event never occurred, and therefore no ‘evidence’ could possibly exist.” They also dismissed the accusation of negotiations with Russian occupiers as “absurd and baseless.”

The HPP administration further accused Tsitlidze of orchestrating a campaign to discredit the company and its director, citing “similar unfounded statements” made in the past and vowed to take legal action, stressing that they reserve the right to involve the relevant authorities to investigate and respond to such claims.