Georgian political analysts explain motives of Russia's statements about Lugar laboratory

By voicing statements about the possible development of hazardous pathogens in the Lugar laboratory, Russia is trying to give itself extra weight in the eyes of the international community, since the world pays great attention to biological safety, political analysts suggest.

On May 26, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) demanded to let Russian experts into all the buildings of the Richard Lugar Laboratory in Georgia to check the version that US militaries were developing hazardous pathogens there. The Georgian authorities invited Russian experts to come and make sure that no hazardous infections are being developed in the Lugar laboratory. Experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" called the allegations against the Lugar laboratory unfounded.

Economist Giorgi Khukhashvili believes that amid the new political reality, much attention will be paid to biological security, and by voicing loud statements, Russia is trying to give itself extra weight in the international arena.

"Russia uses its statements as a tool of the political game and blames laboratories in neighbouring countries," Paata Imnadze stated.

In September 2018, Igor Giorgadze, the former Georgian Minister of State Security, announced that he had received documents on the activities of the Lugar laboratory, according to which the laboratory was engaged in dangerous experiments on humans and, possibly, in development of biological weapons.