Parliament Committee Chair accuses opposition of “fake news” over Gov’t plans to buy rescue helicopters

Irakli Beraia, the Chair of the Defence and Security Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Monday accused the domestic opposition of spreading “disinformation” over the Government's plans to purchase three new rescue helicopters from a French manufacturer following the landslide that killed at least 18 in western Georgia on Thursday. 

In his comments for Imedi TV channel, the lawmaker rejected claims by some in the opposition that the Government had “refused” to buy the helicopters that would have been “very helpful” in the ongoing rescue operation in the disaster-affected Shovi resort of Oni municipality, where at least 17 individuals are still missing. 

Beraia said the helicopters ordered by the Government were still being manufactured, with the first one expected to be handed over after 17 months from the signing of the deal and the other two made available after 18 and 19 months respectively. 

He also responded to allegations of the Interior Ministry’s two helicopters engaging in the rescue operation about three hours after receiving notifications on the disaster on Thursday by saying the aircraft had joined the efforts “when it became necessary”. 

The helicopters were prepared for flight as soon as it was required, and once meteorological conditions made the flight possible”, the MP said, adding “our brave pilots evacuated the citizens from the disaster zone when there was no land access to the site”. 

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said in August 2022 his Government had plans to sell one of the two “luxurious” helicopters bought by the previous United National Movement authorities in 2011 and buy three helicopters instead for “rescue and other operations”. 

The announcement came following the deadly crash of a Border Police helicopter in Gudauri in the country’s north that claimed eight lives earlier that month.