The Green Alternative and the Social Justice Center have filed an administrative complaint with the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, requesting the revocation of mining licenses for manganese extraction in the Oni municipality village of Shkmeri.

In July of this year, the National Agency of Mines (NAM) obtained two permits for mineral extraction in the village of Shkmeri. However, during the auction announcment and at the time of providing the license, agency abused the national and international legal guarantees and responsibilities relating to the informing and involving locals in the decision-making process. As a result, the Aarhus Convention has been breached, which requires maximum public participation in environmental matters and prohibits judgment in the absence of such engagement.

Instead of providing a transparent and participatory process as stipulated by law, state agencies used repressive measures against the local population.

A few months before the issuance of licenses, in January 2021, criminal proceedings were initiated against the local population based on license applicants' requests. The state now contests the illegal registration of these parcels of property owned by locals and whose use was authorized by law in 2018-2020.

Clearly, the motivation behind these claims is the desire to exploit minerals. Furthermore, criminal proceedings were initiated against the village governor of Shkmeri, who reportedly issued unlawful consents for property registration to local citizens. Additionally, the municipal court acknowledged the existence of a criminal violation.

In June 2021, the governor of Shkmeri and the residents were found guilty, their legally registered plots of land were confiscated, and monetary fines were imposed. According to locals, five Shkmeri citizens were the subject of an ongoing investigation. Victims note that in many cases, they couldn't even manage to properly use their right to protection.

Shkmeri has a population of 24 people, according to the 2014 census, and Usholta and Kharistvali, two neighboring villages, have a combined population of 14 to 15 people. The local community has owned, farmed, and utilized the land for decades despite the depopulation of the highland communities. Moreover, this community of the highland region maintains an active connection with other fragile, impoverished villages of Racha, thereby protecting the local social fabric from extinction.

It is unknown at this time what quantity and quality of minerals are present in Shkmeri; however, attempts to extract them were made in 2006-2008. Back then, the lack of a roadway made mining more difficult, but the new Sachkhere-Oni road now eliminates this problem and makes Racha minerals more accessible for mining.

Unfortunately, other instances of manganese mining in Georgia leads us to conclude that, rather than protecting the community’s rights, the state acts solely in the interest of corporations. This is a common occurrence in Chiatura and in nearby communities. Mining operations have already exposed the Chiaturi municipality and its inhabitants to an ecological catastrophe. In Chiatura, violation of private property, seizure, forcing to give up one's own houses to mining corporation, and harsh policy against the populace has become an established norm. [2]

In light of the aforementioned, we feel that licenses for the extraction of minerals in the village of Shkmeri were issued in a flagrant violation of the law. It is unacceptable to harvest minerals while violating the rights of the local community and harming the natural environment. Consequently, we urge that the permits issued by the Ministry of Economy be immediately revoked.

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