Residents of Tbilisi protest against felling trees in Kikvidze Park

Residents of Tbilisi express bewilderment at the plans to build a police station in the Kikvidze Park. Their special indignation is caused by the idea to cut down trees in the recreational area to clear the area for construction.

In the eastern part of the park they plan to fell 50 trees. Instead, the Georgian MIA plans to build a police station. Environmental NGOs of Georgia have already held protests in Tbilisi demanding to stop cutting trees and building the police office.

On February 16, the NGO named "Support Group of Georgian Greenpeace" held another action in defence of the park. The action was attended by several dozens of people.

The "Caucasian Knot" was told at the city Mayoralty that the construction of the park had not yet begun; there was no final decision on this issue, because there was no decision of the Sakrebulo.

The total area of the park is 20,000 square meters; a small number of trees are subject to felling. However, local residents are categorically against such a development.

"I live here since 1939, when I was three years old. This park means quite a lot to us. If they cut down trees – it will cripple the appearance of our park... And why do I need a police station near the place of rest? I am not against a police station, but can't they build it away from the park?" asked the pensioner Robiko Kashia.

"I live in this house, opposite the park, from the date of our wedding in 1954. The park is just part and parcel of our life. If they cut down trees – it would be a big blow for us," said Makvala Kashia Robiko's wife.

Residents of other districts of the city also came to support the protest.

"They have already fenced off a part of the park; thus, they'll cut down the trees planted here in 1935. Imagine: they are here for almost 80 years, how can they cut them? They are the city's lungs and a place for children to walk," said the journalist Manana Iashvili.