Protest statement against the arrest of several miners in Chiatura, Georgia

Details

Created: Friday, 23 May 2025 13:02

Hits: 77

To the government of Georgia, Mr. Saakashvili, the Foreign office, Federal Minister Mr Wadephul and the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Represantative Ms Kaja Kallas. Dear Mr Saakashvili, Mr Wadephul and Ms Kallas, On behalf of the International Miners' Coordination Group (ICG), I am writing to you today: On 29 April 2025, we received news from Chiatura, Georgia, that five leading miners had been arrested at 3 a.m. by the regional police in the tent of the striking miners, some of whom are on hunger strike, and are still in custody.

I was there myself a few days earlier. From my own observations and numerous conversations there, I can report that the miners in the manganese mine have been locked out since November 2024 with the promise that work would resume on 1 March and that they would be paid 60% of their wages every month until then. Since then, their wages have been paid late until December, and at the end of February 2025, they received written notice of termination via text message, effective in March. The miners and their families are in a desperate situation.
Since then, the miners and their families have been courageously striking, supported by the population in the region, for the preservation of their jobs and livelihoods in the Chiatura region, as well as for a future for their children. Since then, the company and the press loyal to it have been conducting a smear campaign against the striking miners.
The miners' struggle and perseverance deserve great respect, and they are receiving solidarity and support from around the world.
We hereby protest in the strongest possible terms against the criminalisation and arrest of the struggling miners and their supporters.
We, the International Mineworkers' Coordination, call on the police and the government in Georgia to immediately release the arrested miners and to immediately stop the repression against the struggling miners and their supporters. We also demand the recognition of their civil democratic and trade union rights.
Yours sincerely
The International Coordination Group of the International Mineworkers' Coordination
Andreas Tadysiak, Main Coordinator of the International Mineworkers' Coordination