The FINANCIAL — Georgia accused Russia on Sunday, August 17 of deliberately starting a fire which threatens to destroy a forest regarded by Georgians as a national treasure.
According to The Sun, fires raged on 17th of August, in the Borjomi-Kharagauli national park, an area regarded as a “natural treasure” in the centre of the country. An environment minister in the capital, Tbilisi, said: “We’re sure they started it.”
"Fires in the Borjomi forests are still continuing. There was unfortunately no progress in the fight against the fires, two hundred hectares have been burned down "Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said on August 18. Heraldsun reports.
According to Kyiv Post, Georgian Environment Minister Irakly Gvaladze also blamed Russian helicopters for starting the fires.
"Local people say that the fires were started by Russian helicopters. They flew over the forests and then the fires started," he said. "Now the Russians are not allowing aviation teams from Ukraine and Turkey to help put out the fires."
According to Heraldsun, a Russian defence ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by state news agency RIA Novosti that Russia has "nothing to do with the forest fire in Borjomi. If the Georgians come to us, we are ready to help them extinguish it".
"Local people say that the fires were started by Russian helicopters. They flew over the forests and then the fires started,"" he said.
The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, about 125 kilometres south-west of Tbilisi, is the source of Borjomi mineral water – one of Georgia's most celebrated exports.
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