About 400 employees of IDS Borjomi went on strike demanding reinstatement of 50 coworkers dismissed following the company’s announcement of a “temporary suspension” of production in late April.

A “full-scale, permanent” strike of the workers, announced by the Trade Union of Employees in Agrarian Farming, involves 6 demands including an “immediate reinstatement” of the “illegally dismissed” employees of the company, issuance of their salaries, return to previous labour conditions and lifelong contracts for every employee of the company, along with a 25% salary increase.

On April 29, Russian-owned IDS Borjomi Georgia announced to cease production, citing “difficulties” stemming from Russia’s war in Ukraine. The company’s majority shareholder, Mikhail Fridman, is currently facing Western sanctions.