Interior Ministry launches criminal probe over footage of dog burial site

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched an investigation into footage circulated about animal burial sites. The ministry said the investigation is being conducted under Article 259 of the Criminal Code, which covers torture of an animal, cruel treatment or other forms of violence against animals.

Today, at 18:30, animal rights advocates and citizens will hold a protest rally in front of the Government Administration. Participants demand an immediate end to cruel treatment of animals, punishment of those responsible, and the launch of universal rabies vaccination campaigns.

On October 31, Public Broadcaster's First Channel aired material showing pits, animal graves and dog remains. Afterwards, animal rights advocates created a petition on social networks and called on investigative agencies to look into the case. They also requested an expert examination of the remains to determine the causes of the animals' deaths.

The Tbilisi City Hall dismissed the information circulated in the media as false. According to the agency, the facts are being distorted to suggest that the Animal Monitoring Agency is carrying out mass and deliberate killing of animals.

According to the city hall, the video shows a process that is fully permitted by law. The burial site is intended for the remains of dogs that died in Tbilisi for various reasons, including disease, road accidents, accidents and natural death. The city hall states that hundreds of animals are euthanized and thousands die of natural causes in the capital each year.