New helicopters will be available in two-year-time – ruling party MP

Irakli Beraia, the Chair of the Defence and Security Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Monday said the new helicopters, which the Government promised to buy last year after a deadly crash of a helicopter in Gudauri, killing eight, would be available in about 19 months, adding they were being “manufactured” in France. 

 

By the comment, the lawmaker rejected the opposition’s allegations that the Government had refused to buy the helicopters, following the arrival of the border police two helicopters in the Shovi resort in western Georgia after three hours from receiving the notification to evacuate the people after a landslide which killed at least 18. 

 

He also said the helicopters got engaged in the operation when it was “necessary” and when the weather conditions made their flight possible.