According to Natia Turnava, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, there are three types of criticism regarding Namakhvani HPP: "No to HPPs," xenophobic rhetoric, and project structure. The Minister is categorical about the last two complaints and says that if anyone shares two discourses - the anti-HPPs campaign and the rhetoric towards ethnic strife - the government will have nothing to do with them.
"The general movement "No to Georgian HPPs" is detrimental to our national interests, and as for xenophobic expressions and hate speech, I would like to remind everyone that this is punishable by law, especially unacceptable when it comes to our neighbor and strategic partner, the Euro-Atlantic Alliance member State, Turkey. Please be specific - whether you agree or disagree if you disagree, then we are free to argue and agree on any specific issue," said Natia Turnava, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, addressing the joint sitting of the Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee and the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee.
