Papuashvili: investigation must establish whether power outage was caused by human factors or sabotage

It is important to determine all the details surrounding the nationwide power outages, including whether human factors, external interference or acts of sabotage were involved, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said on Saturday.

“An investigation and examination are needed to establish what we were dealing with. The fact is that it was an unusual incident, when the entire system was shut down consecutively. Therefore, it is important that all details are clarified,” Papuashvili said.

He added that conclusions should not be drawn before the investigation is completed.

“It is important to establish all the details – whether there was a human factor, someone’s interference, or an act of a sabotage nature. Of course, all of this must be identified. Let us see what the investigation reveals,” he said.

The State Security Service of Georgia has launched an investigation under Article 318 of the Criminal Code following repeated emergency power outages across the country. The article concerns interference with the normal functioning of state enterprises or other important facilities, or their damage or destruction, with the aim of threatening state interests.

Electricity supply was disrupted across Georgia for several hours on 24 and 25 July.