300 Residents Protest Against Hydroelectric Power Plant Construction in Georgia's Pankisi Gorge; Police Use Tear Gas

Today, around 300 residents in the Pankisi Gorge of Georgia have protested against the construction of a hydroelectric power plant near the village of Birkiani. The construction work for the 'Samkurtzkali 2' hydroelectric power plant, with a capacity of 160 MW, was scheduled to begin today.

Georgian journalist Sulkhan Borgzord has shared videos of the protest on his Facebook page. The residents' demonstration has been so intense that a significant number of law enforcement officers and special forces have been deployed to the village. The police used water cannons and tear gas against the protesters.