Georgian Public Defender Levan Ioseliani, Deputy Public Defender Irine Chikhladze, and representatives of the Office met with residents of the villages of Nergeeti (Baghdati municipality) and Opurchkheti (Tskaltubo municipality). During the meetings, they briefed the local residents on the activities of the Public Defender and learned about the local challenges related to the protection of human rights.

In Nergeeti, residents highlighted the issue of access to healthcare services. According to them, the local outpatient clinic - which underwent rehabilitation by the municipality - has not yet been put into operation, and there is currently no functioning outpatient facility in the village. The meeting also underscored the need for a thorough assessment of geological risks in the settlement, following the landslide events that occurred in 2024.

Local residents also spoke about the necessity of rehabilitating the school and establishing a recreational area for children. The implementation of agriculture support programmes was also highlighted as a significant factor for the economic empowerment of the local population.

In the village of Opurchkheti, one of the primary topics discussed was the challenges associated with open-pit granite extraction. Residents pointed to repeated violations of licensing terms and environmental damage. Locals also attribute the contamination of their drinking water to the granite extraction activities.

Furthermore, residents raised concerns regarding unstable power supply, which they state is caused by frequent damage to the electricity distribution network located within the forest area. These power interruptions are particularly severe during the winter months and frequently lead to the suspension of operations at the local kindergarten.

Based on the information gathered during these meetings, the Public Defender’s Office will examine the issues raised and continue to engage with the relevant authorities to advocate for their resolution.