Chiatura miners to join protests in Racha over alienation of 104,712 to controversial businessman

Chiatura miners on Monday announced they would join protests against alienation of 104,712 hectares to David Khidasheli, an allegedly Russia-connected businessman, in Georgia’s western Racha region. 

 

“I want to respond to the recent events in Racha, I mean the actions caused by the illegal alienation of timber and soil. As you know, 104,712 hectares were alienated for 49 years, supposedly to a Georgian investor, supposedly as a hunting reserve, which is unreal and suspicious”, Tariel Mikatsadze, one of the miners, said.

 

The Rioni Gorge Saving movement continues to protest in Racha demanding the cancellation of the forest hunting license for Khidasheli’s company. On October 6, the participants of the action moved the tent to Oni City Hall, where they announced a continuous protest.
Protected areas in Racha were created after Khidasheli was given more than 104 hectares of forest to set up a hunting farm.

 

According to the movement leader Varlam Goletiani, this is why a large part of the forest did not fall into the protected areas, instead, the areas that did not require conservation were included in.