A co-founder of the Eurasian Institute, Gulbaat Rtskhiladze, in his interview with Georgia and the World on May 13, suggested that the funds allocated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may not be designated for supporting the economy and the agriculture, but for conducting vaccinations, instead.
In the same interview, journalist Eka Naskidashvili, with reference to immunologist Tengiz Tsertsvadze, states that Georgia is participating in a study by the World Health Organization (WHO) that envisages testing of four drugs. As Naskidashvili points out, this raises doubts that the partner countries are transferring funds to Georgia in exchange for the vaccination and experiments.
The assessments of both the respondent and the journalist create a context that the international aid is being allocated in exchange for testing vaccines, not as an immediate support for the economy and agriculture.
- Gulbaat Rtskhiladze’s statement that the IMF may be transferring the money to Georgia in exchange for conducting vaccinations, is a lie. The IMF transferred USD 200 million to Georgia for urgent balance of payments and fiscal needs.
- Eka Naskidashvili’s assessment is manipulative as well. Tengiz Tsertsvadze spoke about four drugs that the WHO will send to Georgia, but these drugs are not vaccines. Two of these four drugs have already been used in Georgia to fight the coronavirus and AIDS. Participation in the study is voluntary.
- Eight drugs that have reached the crucial clinical testing stage are being currently tested in the United States, England, and China.
Such statements strengthen conspiracy theories about the threats of vaccination and aims to spread fear in the public.
1. The International Monetary Fund transferred the funds to cover financial needs.
On May 2, the IMF allocated USD 200 million to Georgia to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
The statement by the IMF reads that the funds will be used to cover the immediate
- financial needs and
- balance of payments.
Source: Twitter/IMF
“The pandemic is expected to have a significant impact on Georgia’s economy, interrupting the positive economic trajectory of past years. The weakened macroeconomy and the fiscal situation have created some immediate financial needs. The IMF financial support will make a substantial contribution toward fulfilling the needed increases in health spending and social safety nets” – reads the statement by the IMF.
2. The WHO will give four drugs to Georgia in the framework of the study. Two of them have already been in use. The participation in the study is voluntary.
The Head of the Infectious Disease Hospital Tengiz Tsertsvadze, stated on air at TV Pirveli’s program “რეაქცია” (“Reaction”) that the WHO will give four drugs to Georgia in the framework of its study and that two of them have already been used in Georgia to fight the coronavirus and AIDS. Namely, as Tsertsvadze made clear, the following drugs are concerned: “1. Plaquenil, which is already in use in Georgia in the fight against the coronavirus; 2. Remdesivir, which will enter Georgia for the first time; 3. Lopinavir/Ritonavir, which is used to fight AIDS and has already been used on several HIV-positive patients in Georgia; 4. Lopinavir/Ritonavir plus Interferon beta.”
As Tserstvadze stated, the participation in the study is voluntary and the participants will confirm their willingness with a preliminary signature.
3. Eight drugs that have reached the clinical testing stage are being currently tested in the United States, England, and China.
According to the WHO, throughout the world, up to 100 potential vaccines for the novel coronavirus have been prepared, however, only eight of them reached the crucial testing stage. Out of these eight vaccines, four are being tested in the United States and Europe and the remaining four – in China. The European vaccine belongs to the University of Oxford and its testing on English volunteers on five different locations began in April.
Prepared by Nana Rapava
