Levan Ioseliani, the Public Defender of Georgia, met with striking residents of Shukruti, western Georgia, on Wednsday for the first time since their lengthy protest began six months ago. The residents have been rallying against the damage they claim has been caused by ongoing ore mining operations, which they argue are destroying their homes and livelihoods.
During the meeting, Ioseliani listened to the demands of the protesters, but many left feeling dissatisfied with the lack of concrete responses to their questions. One participant expressed frustration, saying, “after the meeting, I was left with the feeling that the rights of the public defender are not protected in this country and his rights are limited.”
The workers are calling for compensation for the damages they attribute to the mining activities, and some have resorted to extreme measures, including hunger strikes. Notably, five individuals have sewn their mouths shut as a desperate plea for attention to their plight.
Ioseliani acknowledged the challenges faced by his office in obtaining necessary documentation to address the residents’ grievances. He said, “for a whole month, we have been asking for case materials to study this issue, but nothing has been presented. I cannot deceive people, especially hungry people.” He stressed the limitations of his role in addressing the longstanding compensation issue that remains unresolved in court.
