According to Tbilisi City Hall, the burial site shown in a video circulating in the media is intended for the remains of dogs that have died from various causes, and the suggestion that "a deliberate slaughter of animals is taking place" is a distortion of the facts

Tbilisi City Hall has dismissed the information circulating in the media regarding animal burial sites as false.

The agency explains that it is a distortion of the facts to imply that "the Animal Monitoring Agency is carrying out a mass and deliberate slaughter of animals."

"We wish to address a report aired on the TV channel 'Pirveli,' as well as a deliberate campaign initiated by a certain group of citizens, which contains unverified and false information. This disinformation aims to mislead the public, discredit the activities of the Animal Monitoring Agency, and intentionally damage its reputation.

It is particularly concerning that the facts have been distorted to suggest that the Animal Monitoring Agency is engaged in the mass and deliberate slaughter of animals. The video footage circulating regarding the animal burial site, along with the unauthorized actions taken by certain individuals, is intended to discredit Tbilisi City Hall and artificially incite public tension.

The unauthorized opening of burial sites, the exhumation and relocation of animal remains, and similar actions are not only illegal; such interference compromises sanitary safety, creates a risk of biological contamination, poses a threat to human health and life, and damages the environment. For their own safety, the citizens who participated in the excavation of these burial sites should undergo a medical examination.

In the public interest, we wish to clarify that the video footage broadcast by the TV channel Pirveli depicts a process that is fully permitted under the law. This burial site is designated for the disposal of the remains of dogs that have died within the territory of Tbilisi for various reasons. Among them are animals that died due to various diseases, traffic accidents, other mishaps, or natural causes. Across the capital, hundreds of animals are euthanized annually, while thousands more die of natural causes.

This information has never been concealed by the Animal Monitoring Agency. On the contrary, details regarding the Agency’s operations and the processes for managing animals are publicly available. Anyone interested can review this information in detail on the Agency’s official website.

Those who committed the unlawful act of digging up the burial sites of deceased animals—with the intent to sow tension and panic among the public—are, in fact, well aware of this. These very individuals have, on several occasions, utilized the Animal Monitoring Agency’s services to bury their own deceased animals.

Particularly outrageous is the slanderous claim that the burial site contains live dogs that were deliberately put to sleep; this is an absolute lie and a piece of disinformation. We urge citizens to refrain from the unauthorized opening of burial sites, the exhumation or relocation of human remains, and any similar actions.

We have already contacted law enforcement agencies to investigate the acts of vandalism committed by a certain group and to take appropriate legal action.

Furthermore, we appeal to the public not to be swayed by unverified information, to avoid participating in dangerous, unauthorized activities, and to rely solely on official, verified information," reads the statement.