Protest Held Against Planned Construction on Expo Georgia Territory in Didube

On October 25, a protest was held in Didube against the construction of multi-storey residential buildings and skyscrapers on the territory of Expo Georgia. Participants are protesting the construction of six buildings, a hotel and a mall on the exhibition grounds.

Expo Georgia's Director General Resan Kikava came to the gathering. According to him, he believes the planned project is justified.

"I came as a fan of this space, and I think we are on the same side. I did not come for dialogue, I have no goal or assignment. I came as a citizen and as the head of Expo Georgia. I came with my team to hear what the citizens' demands are, so that I can have my position. I wrote my position yesterday. I have my arguments as a citizen and as the head of Expo Georgia, and I believe this project is justified. Of course, everyone may have a different opinion," Resan Kikava said.

In Tbilisi, at 118 Akaki Tsereteli Avenue, a large-scale developer project is planned on the Expo Georgia territory: six residential buildings of 12, 20 and 30 storeys, a hotel and a shopping center ("City Mall Expo"). The construction of the multifunctional complex is planned by the developer company Cityzen (Cityzen Development). Its founder is Mindia Sabanadze, a Georgian businessman with Russian dual citizenship who owns IG Development. He owns City Mall Saburtalo, City Mall Gldani and the City Tower business center. Sabanadze is a donor to Georgian Dream: in 2016-2017 he donated 100,000 lari to the party, and in 2012 he was a donor to the National Movement.

Mindia Sabanadze claims that the project will ensure the survival and development of Expo. Architects and industry specialists who created the initiative "Save Expo - Protect the Exhibition" to protect the territory say the opposite. According to them, as a result of the project the city will lose a unique place, a history and memory preserved for decades, which will be sacrificed to the developer's private interest. According to specialists, Expo is a public space and not a construction site.

"A project of such scale, which significantly changes the historic environment of the city, should not be solely the developer's decision. The municipality is obliged to protect the public interest! A public discussion involving local residents, industry specialists and interested citizens is essential. The public's position must be taken into account before the final decision is made," representatives of Save Expo state.

Save Expo also published an analysis of the project. According to the initiative's representatives, the company is announcing the project and beginning to sell apartments, although it has not received an official construction permit. In their assessment, this is misleading the public and potential buyers and creates the impression that administrative procedures are a formality.

Contrary to the developer's promise that construction would be on the periphery, the initiative's representatives state that the project provides for the placement of six skyscrapers ranging from 12 to 32 storeys and a shopping mall, including near the park's central entrance. According to them, the skyscrapers will completely change the appearance of the territory and suppress the unique architectural ensemble and recreational space.

Regarding the promise to add playgrounds and walking paths, the initiative's representatives explain that the Expo territory currently serves a recreational and public function. According to them, green spaces on the roofs of buildings and the shopping center cannot replace a full public park and will in fact serve only the residents and customers of the complex.