Mayor Kaladze accuses TV Pirveli of spreading false claims about treatment of stray animals

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has accused TV Pirveli of spreading false information about the Municipal Animal Monitoring Agency, alleging that the broadcaster falsely claimed the agency kills stray animals or buries them alive.

Speaking at a municipal government meeting, Kaladze said the “defamatory campaign” against the agency had been ongoing for months.

He said that following the broadcast, groups of citizens had dug up animal burial sites, creating environmental risks, including the potential spread of biological contamination and threats to public health. Kaladze said an investigation had been launched into the incident, which he described as a violation of the law.

According to the mayor, the agency recorded 145 cases of euthanasia and 2,050 cases of natural animal deaths last year, in addition to animals killed in road accidents.

“Animal deaths are frequent, both from natural causes and road accidents. Euthanasia is also carried out when animals are in conditions incompatible with life. Under the procedures established by law, animal carcasses are buried in a designated burial site, and this is no secret,” Kaladze said.

He added that the agency operates around the clock, with animal carcasses collected during the day being buried at night.

Kaladze thanked agency employees for continuing their work despite “attacks and threats from aggressive groups.”

He also accused those spreading the allegations of seeking to discredit Tbilisi City Hall and create negative public sentiment. He urged residents not to rely on unverified information and to use official sources.

The mayor further alleged that people promoting the claims were linked to political groups that, he said, had repeatedly suffered electoral defeats.