Upon receiving notification of the intoxication of children and an educator at kindergartens located in Tbilisi, Investigation Service of Ministry of Finance of Georgia immediately launched an investigation.

Investigation is underway under Article 198, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, on the fact of manufacturing and sale of products hazardous to human life or health that has endangered human life or health.

According to the information available at this stage, 55 children and 1 educator from 20 kindergartens located in Tbilisi have shown signs of intoxication. They sought medical assistance at 6 medical facilities located in Tbilisi.

Within the framework of the ongoing investigation, more than 50 legal representatives of the children and employees of medical facilities have already been interviewed.

In order to promptly establish the circumstances of the case, investigative and procedural activities, including searches, were intensively carried out throughout the night at 4 kindergartens and 3 companies supplying food products to kindergartens.

Investigative activities are being carried out in close cooperation with the relevant units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the LEPL National Food Agency of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. Representatives of the National Food Agency are also participating in the search activities. According to the information available at this stage, the intoxication may be related to a bacterial infection, the source of which is presumably food products consumed at the kindergartens. The exact product that caused the intoxication will be determined based on the results of the relevant examination.

Investigation is ongoing. Important items, documents, and food products relevant to the case will be seized from all kindergartens where cases of intoxication were recorded.

The public will be provided with additional information on the progress and results of the investigation.