A member of the "Save Balda Canyon" movement, Indiko Bzhalava, was acquitted by Senaki District Court Judge Levan Nutsubidze. The Prosecutor's Office accused him of threatening the wife of an employee of an investor company. Bzhalava was held unlawfully for 98 days and was released on September 19 on GEL 10,000 bail.
News
Trending stories
- 1 Former Prime Minister Garibashvili Sentenced to Five Years in Prison After Plea Deal
- 2 Otar Partskhaladze Charged with Organizing Murder of Businessman Levan Jangveladze
- 3 Shalva Papuashvili Says Georgian Dream Filed Complaint with BBC
- 4 Georgian Dream Party Further Tightens Grants Law, Introducing Up to 6 Years in Prison
The Social Justice Centre defended Indiko Bzhalava in court. The NGO states that the case details and the evidence gathered by the defence clearly demonstrate that Indiko Bzhalava is innocent of any crime.
Activists oppose the privatisation of the unique Balda Canyon and the construction of tourist infrastructure in Martivili, Samegrelo. On 11 June 2025, late in the evening, they were attacked in their tent. One of the activists, Mindia Bzhalava, was injured with seven stab wounds.
Martvili police arrested brothers Gela and Giga Khurtsilava on charges of attempted murder and threats. On June 12, Indiko Bzhalava, a protest participant, was also detained. The Prosecutor's Office accused him of making death threats against Gela Khurtsilava's wife, Sophio Shakulashvili.
A journalistic investigation by the media outlet “Mtis Ambebi” revealed that the arrest and subsequent illegal detention of the 30-year-old activist were based on witness Maia Kukhaleishvili's testimony, which was falsified by criminal investigator Eliso Zarkua.
Balda residents have been protesting nonstop for over 770 days. During this time, participants in the protest have repeatedly faced harassment and intimidation from representatives of the investor.
In March 2025, the Senaki District Court found Giorgi Merkviladze, director of the investor company Canyon 350, guilty of violence against Tsotne Tvaradze, one of the leaders of the protest movement.
The Agency of Protected Areas put Balda Canyon and an adjacent plot of land measuring 24,130 sq m up for electronic auction on November 5, 2022, to develop tourist infrastructure. On November 29, a lease agreement was signed with the company established after the announcement of the auction, Ltd, "Canyon 350
The only company participating in the auction is owned by Valerian Mchedlidze, the former chairman of the Agency for Protected Areas, and Mamuka Merkviladze, who acts as the de facto ambassador of Georgia to Russia.
According to the agreement, Ltd. "Canyon 350" was supposed to complete the construction of the tourist infrastructure by November 29, 2025. Over the past few days, Balda residents, particularly mothers, have been demanding that the Agency of Protected Areas not extend the contract deadline.
