Today, on July 26, local residents of Chuberi and Khaishi protested against the measures taken by the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance in the villages of Mestia municipality - Chuberi, Khaishi and Idliani. Protesters blocked the Zugdidi-Mestia road. Representatives of the Public Defender's Office in Samegrelo and Zemo-Svaneti are monitoring the ongoing developments on the ground.

According to the reports, the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia is carrying out measures to identify the persons illegally acquiring woods, persons selling timber through fraudulent documents and illegal wood factories in Imereti, Adjara, Kakheti, Guria, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Shida Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti regions.

The Public Defender says it is important the law enforcers not to restrict the freedom of assembly and demonstration of the protesters. She also calls on the protesters to peacefully express their protest.

A representative of the Public Defender's Office attended the negotiations between the representatives of the authorities and protesters and will continue to monitor the protests. In case of necessity, citizens can contact the Public Defender's Office any time via hotline - 1481.