“Allegations that animals are being burned alive are unacceptable and do not reflect reality,” said Lasha Avaliani, Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture. He added that such claims must be substantiated by those who make them.
The statement follows social media posts on 1 April suggesting that animals were burned at a shelter’s crematorium in Gori Municipality, showing the crematorium operating at night.
Deputy Minister Avaliani clarified that the National Food Agency’s activities in Gori, including relocating stray dogs, do not support these claims and are being misrepresented.
He explained that similar operations were conducted with domestic animals in Kakheti and Imereti, and a team was deployed in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, with their first intervention taking place in Zugdidi Municipality. No activities occurred in other regions or shelters.
Regarding Shida Kartli, Avaliani noted that agency vehicles were not present and there is no evidence of shelter entry, information verifiable via security camera footage.
“Anyone claiming such incidents and possessing video evidence should make it public. These allegations are easy to verify. Currently, the National Food Agency has no involvement with shelters in Shida Kartli. The only activity observed is the operation of a waste incinerator, which burns general waste, including animal remains generated post-operation,” Avaliani concluded.
