The National Environmental Agency invalidated a 49-year hunting license for 104,712 hectares of forest in Racha and Kvemo Svaneti granted to Davit Khidasheli, the partner of the Russian oligarch, last year.
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“The National Environmental Agency declared the order of March 23, 2022, on issuing a special license to the company HG Capra Caucasica LLC to organize a hunting farm in Racha invalid. Accordingly, the special hunting farm license (No. 000019) issued based on the said order was canceled.
Due to the non-fulfillment of license obligations by the company HG Capra Caucasica, the relevant administrative offense protocols were drawn up by the Department of Environmental Supervision in May of this year. The Law on Licenses and Permits, as well as the General Administrative Code, provides for certain legal actions in case of a breach of obligations. Based on this, the National Environmental Agency started the process of declaring the license invalid. As part of the proceedings, the agency investigated the factual circumstances; an oral hearing was held with the participation of the interested parties, where the parties were allowed to present their opinions and arguments regarding the fulfillment of license obligations. As a result of the discussion, the National Environmental Agency decided to declare the hunting farm license in Racha invalid.
It should be noted that the support of all developmental projects is of the utmost importance for the state, however, in case of non-fulfillment of the agreed conditions, the measures stipulated by the law will be taken,” said the statement issued by the National Environmental Agency.
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture said once again that in Racha, in the area in question, work is underway to create protected areas, in which the involvement of the local population will be important.
The Save Rioni Valley movement has been holding a rally outside the Ministry building since November 18. Their main demand was the cancellation of the license. According to the head of the movement, Varlam Goletiani, they are not going to stop the protest yet, because they demand a meeting with the minister regarding the increase of the protected areas in Racha and the involvement of the locals in this process. Also, on November 29-30, the court hearings are scheduled for the activists of the movement, who were arrested on November 18 for petty hooliganism and disobedience to a legal request by the police.
Mountain Stories first broke the news of the transfer of 104,712 hectares of forest in Racha and Kvemo Svaneti for 49 years to a partner of a sanctioned Russian oligarch on April 22, 2022.
Non-governmental organizations Green Alternative and Racha Community Organization appealed the government's decision in court and demanded its cancellation.
On July 17, 2023, Mountain Stories published a journalistic investigation - Occupation of Racha Forests, which revealed numerous violations of law and safety issues.
On July 24, Green Alternative and the Center of Civil Activities appealed to the General Prosecutor's Office. The non-governmental organizations requested an investigation into the possible facts of official fraud and bribery against the former mayor of Oni municipality, Emzar Sabanadze, and his first deputy, Dimitri Sakvarelidze.
On July 26, the members of the Parliament of Georgia Tamar Kordzaia, Teona Akubardia, and Khatuna Samnidze held a press conference and demanded an investigation of violations from the prosecutor's office. The MPs also talked about security-related challenges. Before the press conference, they got to know the details of the case in Racha and met with locals.
