US rep in OSCE dismisses Russian counterpart's "disinformation" on Tbilisi Lugar Centre

The United States representative in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe has responded to claims against the Tbilisi-based Center for Public Health Research by his Russian counterpart by calling the comments "disinformation" on Thursday.

Ambassador James Gilmore rejected earlier statements by Russia's OSCE representative Aleksandr Lukashevich, in which the latter alleged the laboratory - also referred to as the Lugar Centre - was used for  medical experiments 'involving viral mutations and biological weapons.'

Gilmore said it was "regrettable that Russia would come forward with this kind of disinformation" against the laboratory and noted an effort involving Ukraine and Georgia for "peaceful research and vaccine development" against newly emerging diseases.

The suggestion that there is somehow something mysterious going on in Ukraine and Georgia, or anywhere else for that matter, is, frankly, weird" - Ambassador James Gilmore

The US representative delivered his response to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna. The reply was aimed at statements by Lukashevich that involved allegations of "dual-purpose biological laboratories" in operation in both Ukraine and Georgia.

Lukashevich particularly referred to the Lugar Centre in his comments and alleged the venues were created and funded by the US Department of Defense and involved "closed experiments" involving pathogens and medication tested on Georgian citizens.

Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have made similar comments about the Lugar Centre and demanded access to the venue for inspection.

Last month Georgian Prime Minister’s Special Representative in Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze told reporters Russian experts would be allowed into the lab only in the presence of international delegates - within the convention on prohibition of biological weapons - and not in a bilateral format, as Russia has demanded.

Located in Tbilisi and named after former American Senator Richard Lugar, the lab became operational in 2013. The centre is part of Georgia’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), under the Georgian Health Ministry.

The construction of the centre was launched in 2004 based on agreements signed between Georgia and the US in 1997 and 2002.