Animal rights activists demanded an investigation into the burial of dogs in Tbilisi.
Georgian activists called on the prosecutor's office to investigate the circumstances of the death and burial of dogs on the outskirts of Tbilisi and to compare them with reports from owners about the disappearance of animals.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on April 19, participants in the protest called on the Georgian authorities to implement humane programs for the sterilization of stray animals.
On April 4, animal rights activists at a rally outside the Tbilisi administration demanded changes to the stray animal population management program and to return sterilized animals to their habitats. According to them, many dogs taken to municipal shelters simply disappeared.
Activists demanded a prosecutor's investigation
Georgian animal rights activists appealed to the prosecutor's office demanding an investigation into the circumstances of possible illegal euthanasia of dogs and the burial of their remains, reported "Georgia Online" on the evening of October 31.
The activists' appeal was prompted by the announcement of a journalistic investigation on the Pirveli TV channel. In the footage released, activists believe it shows how the remains of dogs are buried at night in a cemetery on the outskirts of Tbilisi.
The authors of the statement noted that reports are coming from various regions of the country about the suspicious disappearance of dogs under their care.
Animal rights activists demanded that the prosecutor's office inspect the pit at the cemetery, exhume all remains, and appoint an independent expert to establish the circumstances of the animals' deaths.
They also demand to check the remains for microchips, collars, and other identification tags, study citizens' reports of dog disappearances, and compare their data with the discovered remains.
Furthermore, the authors of the appeal called for an examination of the documentation justifying euthanasia, and to establish who ordered the burial of the dogs' bodies, who was responsible for their transportation and burial, and whether these actions complied with legal requirements.
"Society has the right to know how many animals died and under what circumstances; what methods and drugs were used for euthanasia; who made the decisions about euthanasia and burial of remains; how official statistics correspond to the real situation and why the burial was carried out secretly and under the cover of night," the publication quoted from the appeal.
The Tbilisi City Hall called the burial legal
The Tbilisi City Hall responded to the situation, stating that the Animal Monitoring Agency is not involved in the destruction of animals.
"We inform you that the video material disseminated by the Pirveli TV company depicts a process that is fully permitted by law. This burial site is intended for the remains of dogs that died for various reasons in Tbilisi. Among them are animals that died from various diseases, traffic accidents, accidents, and natural causes," the City Hall's statement was quoted by "Interpressnews".
According to the authorities, hundreds of animals die from euthanasia annually in the city, and thousands from natural causes.
"This information has never been hidden by the Animal Monitoring Agency. On the contrary, information about the agency's activities and relevant animal management processes is public," the statement said.
Killing of stray dogs led to street protests in Georgia
Recall that residents of Georgia have repeatedly protested against cruelty to animals. In particular, on June 19, 2023, protests took place in several cities of the country, where participants demanded punishment for those who kill stray animals. Additionally, protesters called for stricter criminal penalties for animal cruelty.
The protests were prompted by news of the killing of a stray dog in Tsalki, the video of which spread on social media. Prior to this, a similar incident occurred on July 21, 2020, in Tbilisi.
In January 2023, animal rights activists at a rally in Batumi drew attention to the problem of cruelty to stray animals. About 100 people participated in the action. The protest was prompted by the killing of a stray dog by a man who shot it with a pneumatic gun. The man was charged under Article 259 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (torture or cruel treatment of an animal resulting in its death), which provides for up to one year of imprisonment.
In April 2017, about 20 people at a rally in front of the Georgian Parliament demanded amendments to the Criminal Code regarding animal cruelty and the adoption of a bill "On the Status of Companion Animals".