The Social Justice Centre responds to the protest of the miners from Chiatura, who have proclaimed a hunger strike[1] in order to demand the release of their detained comrades. Yesterday, one of the miners, Mirza Loladze, sew his mouth shut[2]. The use of such extreme forms of protest serves as further proof that the workers feel obligated to engage in the most severe form of self-harm in order to resist extreme injustice and oppression.

Since February, Chiatura miners have been protesting major labor rights violations committed by "Georgian Manganese" and Chiatura Management Company. "Georgian Manganese" has discontinued underground operations and failed to pay the miners their wage earnings since February[3]. Hundreds of miners employed by the company have been left without their primary source of income, which has caused a severe socio-economic crisis in the Chiatura municipality[4].

A special working group was established within the framework of the Tripartite Commission for Social Partnership under the government in an effort to resolve the crisis. However, participation in this group was not granted to those most directly affected by the crisis — the miners of Chiatura[5]. In April, Mikheil Sotski, was appointed as an expert member of the working group, who was responsible for initiating the reorganization process and resuming mining operations in Chiatura[6]. The reorganization process was marked by fundamental procedural shortcomings and serious violations of miners' labor rights, which significantly exacerbated the ongoing social crisis in Chiatura[7].

The new administration asked employees to sign a document that misrepresented the reality[8]. The document implied that workers agreed to an unlawful reorganization and were voluntarily moving to job-seeker status. It did not clarify which departments or positions were subject to reorganization, or what the changes would mean for those signing. It also falsely stated that workers had been informed about the new staff list, open positions, job descriptions, and key employment terms, including working hours even though no such information was provided to them[9].

On May 19, the new administration released a statement stating that the miners involved in the mass protest in Chiatura had been “permanently terminated”[10]. The miners who were dismissed were those who refused to sign the unlawful document in question and declined to take part in a process that blatantly infringed upon their rights. The decision to dismiss the miners was announced abruptly, at a time when they were still engaged in ongoing discussions with company leadership[11].

An incident transpired on April 28 between the director of the Shukruti mine and protesting miners, in the midst of a climate of extreme injustice, abandonment, and complete state neglect. Consequently, four residents of Chiatura were apprehended and incarcerated in pretrial detention on criminal charges[12].   The defense's request to release the detainees on 5,000 GEL bail was denied by the court. This measure would have guaranteed their complete participation in the proceedings and prevented any further unlawful behavior[13]. Their pretrial detention was maintained by the Kutaisi City Court on June 12 [14].

The detention of protesters has further deepened the crisis in Chiatura. As a result, several miners participating in the protest have declared a hunger strike, and one miner even sewed his lips shut in an act of protest. Their central demand is the release of their detained colleagues.[15].

The Social Justice Center remains steadfast in its legal advocacy for the rights of miners and expresses full solidarity with the people of Chiatura, who have endured years of systemic oppression and injustice at the hands of both Georgian Manganese and the state, while their voices and concerns have been consistently disregarded by those in power.

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