On 3 September, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that a foreign cyber attack on the computer system of the Georgian Ministry of Health took place on 1 September, stealing documents from the country’s Lugar Lab. The information stolen pertained to the country’s management of the coronavirus pandemic 

“Part of the authentic documentation obtained as a result of illegal access into the computer system has been uploaded on a foreign website and is available to the public. However, the website has also uploaded obviously falsified documents, which are deliberately falsified in order to intimidate and confuse the public,” said the Ministry. The Georgian MIA also added that it will apply to the partner countries for assistance in the rapid and effective investigation of the crime.

On 26 May, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing its concerns over the US-funded medical laboratory in Tbilisi, the Lugar Center, noting that the Center’s compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention “raises questions” (Caucasus Watch reported). The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by saying that it would allow a renewed visit of Russian experts into the Center. Russia responded by saying that such a visit would only make sense if their experts would be able to enter the building of all the laboratories, including those controlled by American specialists, and at the same time have access to all requested documentation (Caucasus Watch reported).  

Over the past several months, the Lugar Center has been instrumental in Georgia’s fight against Covid-19. The diagnostic tests conducted at the laboratory were unanimously acknowledged as the most reliable in the country. Moreover, the Georgian authorities have particularly praised the highly accurate medical recommendations the Lugar Center issued for managing the pandemic in the country.