Miners rally in Georgia's Tkibuli

Up to 30 miners went to the mine in Georgia’s Tkibuli municipality and have plans to stay there until their employer gives them and others their salaries and the government decides on the fate of mines.

Work has been suspended in the Mindeli and Dzidziguri mines of Tkibuli since July 16, 2018 after a fatal explosion left four miners died and six others injured.

The Georgian government invited German experts to study the situation in the mines and promised salaries and insurance coverage before the mines are reopened.

"We should have received our salaries [one month salary] before September 15. However, we have not received it yet. We have nothing to cover our everyday needs, bank obligations and communal fees," Agenda.ge cited miners as saying.

The miners said that the mines are "the only source of income" for many of the families in Tkibuli and demanded from the government to tell them whether the mines will reopen or not.