Background 

Residents of an apartment block in central Tbilisi began to complain to the local authorities about toxic fumes from a thermal power plant just metres from their homes. 

Ivane Jugheli, Otar Gureshidze, and Liana Alavidze were among those harmed by the plant’s activities, which were not then subject to environmental rules.

Tbilisi City Hall told the plant to install chimney filters to reduce air pollution – but the request was ignored. 

Residents decided to take legal action against the plant and the authorities, claiming compensation for the harm caused to their health and well-being.

Experts commissioned by a Tbilisi court to assess the environmental pollution caused by the plant discovered that a “whole bouquet of emissions” was reaching residents’ homes. 

There was no buffer zone between the plant and the apartment block. The lack of chimney filters increased the risk to residents, who were found to be suffering from similar health complaints. Doctors thought their illnesses could have been caused by the fumes. 

The Georgian courts were not satisfied with this evidence, and Ivane, Otar, and Liana’s claims were dismissed.