The US Office of Defense cooperation (ODC) handed over locally produced personal protective equipment to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The support was provided through the US Department of Defense Humanitarian Assistance program, as a demonstration of long-standing US-Georgia security partnership.

Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia - Mr. Giorgi Butkhuzi together with the US Defense Attache to Georgia - Colonel Stephanie Bagley, Head of the Office of Defense Cooperation – Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Bilbo and the Bilateral Affairs Officer from the State of Georgia Major Quintin Doll attended the hand-over ceremony.

The equipment handed over by the office of Defense Cooperation included locally-produced 300 disposable medical gowns, 1220 coverall suits, as well as 90 IR thermometers. This will enable the employees of the Ministry to fully carry out the duties assigned to them in the fight against the pandemic in full compliance with the safety norms.

Within the framework of many years of close cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the United States, a number of successful projects have been implemented, which have significantly contributed to strengthening the Ministry"s capacity in various areas, including enhancing capabilities of Georgian Coast Guard.