Employees of the Customs Department of the Ministry of Finance’s Revenue Service participated in the inter-agency training on chemical and biological threats response called “NEXUS GEORGIA 2026”, which was held in Batumi in cooperation with the State Security Service of Georgia and the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).
Within the framework of the training, the participants had the opportunity to work in a real environment on simulated chemical and biological incidents developed in three different scenarios, as well as to test the existing standard operating procedures in practice and identify specific gaps in the coordination process. In addition, as a result of the completion of the field-practical training, with the support of partner countries, relevant recommendations will be developed, and new training projects will be initiated to eliminate the identified challenges.
It is worth noting that on September 8 this year, another simulation training will be held in Mtskheta, which includes practical training for reactions to chemical and explosives in mass gathering places.
Along with the employees of the Customs Department of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance, the event was attended by the Deputy Head of the Customs Department, Elguja Berandze, Head of the Sanitary, Phytosanitary and Veterinary Control Division, Zurab Kikalia, Head of the Non-Tariff Customs Control Division, Zurab Marshania, representatives of relevant units of state agencies responsible for CBRN security, including the State Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of IDPs from the Occupied Territories of Georgia, the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, as well as the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.
Employees of the Customs Department of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance participated in an interagency chemical and biological threat response exercise entitled “NEXUS GEORGIA 2026,” held in Batumi in cooperation between the State Security Service of Georgia and the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).
As part of the exercise, participants had the opportunity to respond, in a realistic environment, to simulated chemical and biological incidents unfolding under three different scenarios, as well as to test existing standard operating procedures in practice and identify specific gaps in the coordination process. Furthermore, following the completion of the field exercises, with the support of partner countries, relevant recommendations will be developed to address the identified challenges and new training projects will be initiated.
It should be noted that another simulation exercise will be held in Mtskheta on September 8 of this year, focusing on practical training in responding to chemical and explosive substances in places of mass gathering.
Along with employees of the Customs Department of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance, the event was attended by Elguja Berandze, Deputy Head of the Customs Department, Zurab Kikalia, Head of the Sanitary, Phytosanitary and Veterinary Control Division, Zurab Marshania, Head of the Non-Tariff Customs Control Division and representatives of state agencies responsible for CBRN security, including the relevant units of the State Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.
