In the Pankisi Gorge in Georgia, a rally was held against the construction of Khadori HPP 3. About 300 residents of local settlements came to it.

The protesters began to block the work of the builders, set fire to a vehicle of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and an excavator, in response to which the police used tear gas and rubber bullets. A total of 55 people were injured, of which 38 were law enforcement officers.

“Members of a certain group of people from the local population attacked the police, started to beat them with batons and throw stones at them, as a result of which additional police forces were mobilized. A certain part of the local population resisted the police. The police equipment was damaged, police officers and citizens were injured, ”TASS cites the text of a statement from the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

It is noted that 23 staff members remain hospitalized. Criminal proceedings have been instituted concerning the attack on police officers and the burning of property.

In turn, the Georgian First Channel reports 40 victims and 30 hospitalized.

“The injured in the clashes 30 people remain in the Telavi referral clinic, among them 27 law enforcement officers, one journalist and two protesters,” said the director of the clinic Khatuna Choniashvili.

However, she stressed that all patients are in a stable condition and most of them will be discharged during the day.

The government of Georgia declared readiness for a dialogue with the local population on the construction of hydropower plants.

"On the instructions of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister Georgy Gakharia, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Maya Tskitishvili, Minister of Environment and Agriculture Levan Davitashvili and Advisor to the Prime Minister for Regional Development Sozar went to the Pankisi Gorge Subari ", - said in a statement of the Cabinet.

Addressing the population, the government stressed that the company engaged in the construction of hydropower plants also implements social projects, and the power plant itself will ensure the country's energy security.

“The population of Pankisi will receive an updated road and energy infrastructure. What is it that the project will create new jobs. At the same time, the local budget will be regularly replenished with taxes, which will be aimed at the development of the region and the well-being of its people. In addition, a special fund will be created, which will be managed by the local population, ”added the government.

  • Riots in Georgia

“The only way is an agreement”

Georgian President Salome Zarubishvili noted that she is ready to contribute to the resolution of the conflict within her capabilities.

“I am closely following the events taking place in the Pankisi Gorge. Within my competence, I am ready to do everything to protect the legitimate interests of both the entire state and each person. The only way is an agreement, ”she wrote on Facebook.

Following the talks between Georgian Interior Minister Georgy Gakhariy and local residents, it was decided to suspend the construction of hydropower plants.

“Now we have to stop and discuss who made a mistake and how. If someone goes and breaks the law, this is a separate issue. As for this hydroelectric station. The hydropower plant builders will continue to talk with you, and the decision will be made according to which the local population will agree. You should know one thing, throwing stones is not an option. Therefore, now we have to calm down and behave as it is consistent with our brotherhood and a long history, ”said Gakharia.

“We made a decision that the hydropower plant will be built only if 90% of the population agrees,” the minister said.

"We will fight to the end"

The Pankisi Gorge is located approximately 60 km from the Russian-Georgian border and a mountain range passes between them. Construction of hydropower plants in this region was supposed to begin in the spring of 2018, however, due to protests by local residents, the project had to be suspended.

People are afraid that they will be relocated due to the construction of the object. This was Sputnik Georgia told local resident Malkhaz Metoprivili.

“Building a hydropower plant means they want to move us.” We will not go anywhere, we will fight to the end. If a hydroelectric station is built here, everything around will turn into a swamp, ”he said.

At the same time, according to Sputnik, earlier the authorities carried out an examination, according to which nothing threatens the adjacent village of Birkiani.