The U.S. Ambassador Kelly Degnan joined NCDC Director Amiran Gamkrelidze and Deputy Director Paata Imnadaze to attend the graduation ceremony and Internship Capstone Exercise for two Georgian students participating in the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research – San Diego State University internship program.

According to Kelly Degnan, Georgia should be proud of the National Center for Disease Control and the Richard Lugar Laboratory.

US Ambassador commented the statement of the so-called state security committee of Tskhinvali regarding the detention of Georgian citizen, according to which Khvicha Mghebrishvili named search for bats for further realization of them to the Lugar Lab for USD 5000 as a motive for moving to the occupied territory.

“Recent disinformation attacks should be recognized for what they are - an attempt to undercut the life-saving work that the National Center for Disease Control has been steadfastly performing. It is difficult for Russia to have a neighbour whose history is successful. This is the reason behind Russia’s attempts to undermine Georgia’s progress… The extraordinary team led by Amiran Gankrelidze and Paata Imnadze has dealt very well with the COVID-19 crisis. The Lugar Center played a huge role”, - said Degnan.