Georgia: This latest report was sent to us from Chiatura
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- Created: Tuesday, 29 April 2025 22:40
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The miners' protest in Chiatura has been going for more than 2 months. Last week and recent days was the peak of escalation of the protest by the company and the capitalist state. As the manganese crisis phase of depression has hit the rock bottom and the expansion phase has to start soon, the company has no more luxury to ignore the miners' protest in hope that they will get tired. First, a man unknown to the miners who introduced himself as a friend of a businessman who runs the coal mining town went to the miners and told them that he was sent to solve their problems as they "solved" them in Tkibuli (coal mining town).
The miners told them that they don't see the methods used in Tkibuli as solving of the problems, quite the contrary, the fact that for two months only several coal miners were able to speak up in solidarity of the ongoing protests means that the "problem solving" method means terrorizing the miners into submission.
The next day, the company officially announced that the "master problem solver" Mikhail Sotsky (the boss of the coal mines), truly was invited as an expert and it was decided to entrust the businessman with the mines to make them profitable. (Mines will be profitable anyway as the Manganese market starts to liven up after the depression).
The company started spreading pieces of paper to sign for the workers, the paper didn't give any guarantees to the workers, on the contrary it relieved the company from all the responsibilities and gave them the right to start mass layoffs and then hire again whoever they seem fit.
The miners saw through this initiative, that the company wanted to start by running smaller mines as an example, which needs up to 200-300 workers and leave more than 3000 workers out of job until they break and lose hope of victory.
The miners started a "Don't sign" campaign, inviting lawyers to analyze the documents publicly and managed that in the end, the company lawyer said the document didn't really have any legal power, meaning whoever else signed by blackmail, promise or out of naivety also were saved from losing their jobs.
One of the miners decided to go on Dry hunger strike (not drinking even water) after 65 hours his health was critical, he was taken to the hospital and decided to take water and continue the hunger strike that way. 5 other miners joined in.
On the 28th of April, a press conference was held in Tbilisi by a small group of miners, the pro government media tried to ruin the press conference by demanding answers to non related questions, like who got compensation for damaged houses in the villages etc.
Parallelly the miners were holding a protest in Chiatura, when they had information that a group led by the mine director was heading to one of the mines.
The argument started after the director called the miners "Herd of cattle" and it led to physical confrontation after which the director was hurt.
On 29th of April, 3am GMT+4, police raided the tent where hunger strikers were and arrested four leaders of the miners.
The next morning a massive demonstration was held by the miners in solidarity, to announce once more that they are not afraid of repressions and they have to finalize this struggle as a victory for the working class of Georgia.
The first of May will be celebrated in Chiatura in struggle, though for objective reasons no additional preparations are made for it.
The fight goes on and the miners aren't backing down.
Best regards