On November 5, 2022, Georgia’s Agency of Protected Areas put Balda Canyon and its surrounding territory up for a 40-year lease for the development of tourism infrastructure. The canyon, designated as a unique natural monument since 2013, is located about 20 minutes from Martvili and serves as a key source of income for residents of the nearby three villages—First, Second, and Third Balda.

The auction winner, announced on November 15, was LLC Canyon 350, a company established in 2022 that managed about 90% of Georgia’s ziplines. Under the terms, the company was required to invest up to 3 million GEL to build a visitor center, walking trails and suspension bridges, observation decks, and a 350-meter “roller” attraction. Construction began in April 2023.

Local residents learned about the 40-year lease only three months later, when young people swimming in the canyon during the summer were told to leave.

“Suddenly one day we discovered that the place we had used our whole lives was sold for forty years,” said local resident Tazo Rukhaia to Mountain Stories.

From the beginning, locals opposed the project, arguing that the deal had been made without their input and that public consultations should have been held. They believed the construction would disfigure the unique landscape and, moreover, would restrict free access for locals, forcing them to pay to visit a site that had always been public.

A meeting was held at the Martvili Municipality Hall on August 16, 2023, where it was decided that construction would be suspended for two weeks so that residents could present their own development plan for the village and the canyon.

On August 28, residents launched a Facebook page titled “To Preserve the Balda Canyon” and began posting videos and messages explaining why they were fighting to save the site.

A follow-up meeting on September 5 ended without agreement. The community decided to take legal action to annul the contract and continue protest actions.

On September 11, residents held a protest in Martvili demanding the suspension of “ecotourism infrastructure” construction and gave the government five days to respond. Demonstrations were held again on September 22.

After the deadline passed, on October 23, locals set up a tent camp at the entrance to the canyon and began round-the-clock protests. On November 3, they blocked company representatives from entering the area.

The movement expressed solidarity with other environmental protests, including the “Guardians of the Rioni Valley,” known for opposing hydropower projects.

On June 11, 2024, a violent confrontation broke out near the canyon between locals supporting and opposing the construction. Brothers Mindia and Archil Bzhalava, who opposed the project, were stabbed, and two other brothers, Gela and Giga Khurtsilava, were arrested. On March 13, 2025, Gela was sentenced to 10 years and Giga to 9 years in prison for the attempted murder of Mindia Bzhalava.

Following this, on June 29, 2024, another protest was held in Martvili, in front of the municipal hall, demanding a halt to construction. Activists from other regions joined the demonstration, arguing that the infrastructure project was destroying pristine nature.

The protest continues. Locals are blocking construction equipment, leading the investor to suspend work. According to Canyon 350 director Giorgi Merkviladze, the suspension is temporary, and he is confident that the tourism infrastructure will be completed as planned.