Interior Ministry studies all possible causes of Borjomi fire.
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Friday, August 25
On August 24, in response to a question over whether the fire is a result of a deliberate action, Georgia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Giorgi Mghebrishvili, said that all possible facts that “could be the reason for the fire in Borjomi Gorge” is being discussed.
After a canister full of petrol was found at the Borjomi forest on August 23, the Minister says the informer has already been questioned.
“I have no information on other details yet,” Mghebrishvili told Imedi TV.
The Minister also confirmed information that several tourists have been questioned near the fire zone.
Holiday makers in Borjomi, in the village of Daba and nearby say many of them have already been interrogated by the police.
The Georgian Parliament has approved the President’s decree on using troops to help deal with the emergency situation. The extra meeting was held in Kutaisi on Wednesday.
The decree was presented by the President’s Parliamentary Secretary, Anna Dolidze.
116 MPs voted in favor of the decision. Nobody was against.
PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili discussed the issue directly with President Giorgi Margvelashvili.
The fire broke out in Borjomi Gorge several days ago, and it has proved impossible to extinguish it with local firefighters alone.
Apart from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Armenia and Belarus, Germany, Romania, Greece and Israel are also ready to help Georgia if needed.
More than 12 hectares of forest have already been burnt, but the government claims the fire will not affect the houses of the local population.
