Georgia: Environmental activists will stage a protest march in Tbilisi, May 25

Event

Environmental activists will hold a protest march in Tbilisi from 16:00 May 25 to denounce the planned construction of the Namakhvani Hydropower Plant in the Rioni Valley. Organizers typically do not announce exact march details; however, precedent suggests thousands of participants will march on central streets, including Shota Rustaveli Avenue, Aleksandr Pushkin Street, Nikoloz Baratashvili Street, and Zviad Gamsakhurdia Named Right Bank, as well as streets near Rose Revolution Square where activists have erected a protest camp.

Additional police will almost certainly deploy in protest-affected areas, which could prompt localized transport disruptions. Current COVID-19 measures in Georgia place strict restrictions on public gatherings; police could attempt to shut down any protest that is deemed to be breaching these restrictions. Police could also intervene should participants follow through on threats to blockade major roads in the city center. While bystanders are unlikely to be targeted, they would face an indirect physical threat near any clashes.

Advice

Avoid all protests as a routine security precaution and to mitigate associated disruptions. Heed instructions from security forces and leave the area at the first sign of a confrontation. Exercise caution and allow additional time for travel in central Tbilisi May 25.