The article describes a recent situation, which occurred on 8th August in the Lagodekhi region of Georgia, close to the border with Azerbaijan, where locals are not being informed about a chemical spraying (insecticides) operation, ostensibly for mosquito control, conducted by teams using a fleet of USAID*-marked vehicles.
Public Health is NOT for the Unwashed Georgian Masses
Freedom of Information sounds good, transparency even better, but that is in THEORY, on paper –BUT not necessarily in REALITY. Here we go again, Georgia, the land of wine, hospitality, and alleged biolabs (research facilities, in the language of Victoria Nuland) is in the news again, not for its geopolitical location or toxic local political landscape, but again for being used as a possible test bed by Multi-National Chemical and Agribusiness Companies and the US government, especially the DOD.
This story is close to my heart, as I am also a victim of the described spraying myself, already suffering from pulmonary fibrosis, and followed up by trying to help obtain information from local authorities. And to no surprise, it was to no avail, and I can only hope some answer is coming from the US government, particularly the Agency for International Development, USAID* based upon a FOIA request.
Meanwhile, local authorities are silent, mouths sealed, threatening, and perhaps clueless to boot. It is just a job for them, and they will get all the good they can get from the project whilst they can. A request for information began:
I am writing to you from the Republic of Georgia to request information on what looks like a USAID* funded effort to spray chemicals for pest control in the Lagodekhi region of the Republic of Georgia. I was approached by a friend (who wishes to remain nameless) from the area whom I had been intending to visit with my family who was concerned about spraying that took place near Lagodekhi on the evening of 8th August 2024, which he was told was for mosquito control, by workers using USAID* marked vehicles (see attached photos).
My friend had raised concerns that the local population had not been informed or consulted about any spraying, and asked to know which chemicals were being used, as it could affect the health of the local population, livestock, bees and crops.
When given this question, the foreman of the group became defensive, stating that the chemicals were approved by the Ministries of Health and Agriculture, that the mayoralty (village head) had been consulted, and that he did not know what the chemicals were, but that they had been “approved”.
Good Enough Answer
When asked what safety precautions were required, he then proceeded to threaten my friend with arrest by the police.
“I only wanted to inform you that the locals are concerned that the chemicals being used may be either hazardous, or used in concentrations that are unsafe, a valid concern given that those who are deploying them don’t know what they are using.”
They are also legitimately concerned that the teams spraying the chemicals did so without making sure the local population and livestock were not in the spray area, as (he and I both witnessed) one truck sprayed a number of people who were walking in the evening, as well as cows coming home from pasture.
So now, as other information avenues are pursued, it is USAID* Washington that is being asked to PLEASE provide information regarding the objectives of the spraying, the chemicals used, and any public consultations that were held?
A Sinister Act—OR Effective Pest Control?
The following day, the local village head, Gamagoba, was not in his office and not answering his phone, coincidence or not?
I visited the local government, spoke to more people, including his deputy, and learned that nobody was warned, and there were no meetings in the village to warn of the threat or share the schedule of spraying, according to my neighbors and several other people in the same small village of 150 people. The concern is that these insecticides could be experimental, or the dose may be incorrect, even if otherwise mixed and applied properly.
Naturally, the first thing in any investigation is to follow the money and find the funding source, people, and look at the projects funded by USAID* and DOD in Georgia, from The American People, are listed on the page, USAID* Projects in Georgia, but there was no reference to spraying among them.
What projects that were listed on the site were mostly those related to democracy, civil society and free and fair elections, the usual MO. At least I confirmed what I ready knew as where most “aid” money was going. Anyway, I was told by the supervisor at the fueling station for the fleet of spray trucks, about 15 in total, that all is OK, even though he personally did not know what chemicals were being sprayed, however, it was approved, and by both the Ministries of Health and Agriculture.
I asked him, “Are you not afraid for your staff, as what to do in case this is a job related adverse reaction?”
He couldn’t answer and this is when the discussion started getting heated. The foreman then threatened to call the police, implying, but not directly, threatening to have us arrested. But such a threat can be worse than arrest in Georgia, historically with beatings, disappearances, and same sex rapes while in custody, at least during the previous UNM government.
Perhaps it’s Stink Bug Eradication
This was not at all reassuring, considering the limitless number of clinical trials being conducted in Georgia by various international drug companies on flimsy research protocols, and the excess death rates from these, Hep C program and experimental TB drugs, to name a few that I have personal knowledge of – and not to mention the WHO approved COVID drugs and questionable vaccines for COVID and other public health threats.
Unfortunately, these are being conducted according to the protocol and in compliance with the claimed regulatory requirements of Georgia and applicable regulations of the US Department of Defense (DOD requirements (page116 of 144) GG-21 Final Project Report. Appendix H: Clinical Protocol, Arthropod-Born and Zoonotic Infections among Military Personal in Georgia).
The unannounced and apparently reckless spraying is part of something more sinister, at least according to conspiracy theorists, who claim that Georgia is involved in bio agents and insect-animal vector projects under the funding of the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency, DTRA, etc.).
Diseases, often insect borne, are studied in relationship to tick-born viral diseases, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, West Nile infection, and other risk factors associated with human brucellosis and Lyme Disease, and last but not least, dealing with entomological weapons systems (munitions) that may have gotten out of control in Georgia. This may be why local Georgian authorities refused to share information or don’t know what chemicals are actually being sprayed on a massive scale.
It is also very questionable as to what the previously mentioned ministries, if they are actually aware of, at least in terms of US-funded or controlled insect programs. One only needs to consider how various military projects in Georgia are conducted (supposedly) in accordance with “Georgian regulations, and US, DOD, and US Army Regulations.”
They are doing so many evil things in Georgia and most Georgians are completely unaware. It is high time to revisit Rachel Carlson, Silent Spring, as it seems that lessons learned from another age have been forgotten.
I would think (at least hope) that informed consent would be required for chemical sprayings with pesticides? Informed consent is a fundamental principle in many areas, especially in medical and research settings, but its application to chemical spraying, particularly with pesticides, can vary depending on the jurisdiction and context.
The Aarhus Convention: This international Treaty, Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters to which Georgia is a party, grants the public rights regarding access to information, public participation, and access to justice in environmental matters. It emphasizes the need for transparency and public consultation in activities that might impact the environment, including pesticide use.
Georgia’s environmental laws generally require public participation in decisions that may have a significant impact on the environment. However, you would think that USAID* and DTRA Projects: U.S.-funded projects, including those by USAID* and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), often called the Pentagon’s Brain, are expected to follow both U.S. regulations and local laws.
It is ironic that U.S. regulations generally emphasize the importance of environmental assessments and public engagement, but how this is implemented in a foreign context can vary, especially in places in the Grey Zone, where authorities are willing to look the other way for financial gain and out of sheer helplessness and ignorance.
In summary, what are the Americans up to, and why such secrecy? The answer is unlikely to be anything good, at least for those directly affected, based on what we already know of DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency and DTRA.
*- are banned in Russia
Henry Kamens, columnist, expert on Central Asia and Caucasus, exclusively for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”
