P100 Technical Site Visit to Sadakhlo Border Crossing Point Supports Preparations for the Georgia-Armenia Cross-Border Field Training Exercise
26/2529 Jul 2026
Kyiv, Ukraine – July 29, 2026
As part of preparations for the forthcoming Georgia-Armenia Cross-Border Field Training Exercise, the EU CBRN Centers of Excellence Project P100 team conducted a technical coordination visit to the Sadakhlo Border Crossing Point in Georgia on 29 July 2026, together with representatives of the competent Georgian authorities.
The visit supported the finalization of operational, technical and logistical arrangements for the Georgian segment of the exercise, scheduled for 5-6 October 2026. It provided an opportunity to validate the planned scenario against actual border-crossing procedures and infrastructure, confirm institutional roles and responsibilities, and review interagency coordination, notification, incident command, biosafety and biosecurity arrangements.
Representatives of the Patrol Police Department, Revenue Service/Customs Department, National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, National Food Agency, State Laboratory of Agriculture, Emergency Medical Service and Marneuli Municipality Public Health Center participated in the technical discussions and site assessment together with the P100 team.
During the visit, participants reviewed the operational layout of Sadakhlo BCP, including passenger and vehicle control areas, the proposed controlled isolation area, emergency access routes, the Incident Command Centre, veterinary response arrangements and decontamination areas. Particular attention was given to ensuring that the exercise could be implemented safely while maintaining continuity of routine border operations.
The forthcoming exercise will simulate a biological incident involving a traveler presenting signs compatible with suspected cutaneous anthrax and the discovery of undeclared raw meat of animal origin. The scenario is designed to test early detection, notification, coordinated decision-making, public-health and veterinary response, emergency medical support, laboratory coordination, decontamination and cross-border information exchange.
The technical visit also enabled the participating institutions to review communication channels, notification procedures, PPE and equipment requirements, and the operational responsibilities of frontline and supporting agencies. The agreed arrangements will be reflected in the final exercise scenario, Master Scenario Events List, operational maps and supporting exercise documentation.
The Sadakhlo exercise forms part of P100’s broader efforts to strengthen frontline biosafety and biosecurity capacities at points of entry across South East and Eastern Europe. By bringing together border, customs, public health, veterinary, laboratory and emergency-response authorities, the exercise will provide an opportunity to test existing national procedures under realistic conditions and identify areas for further strengthening of interagency coordination.
Project P100 (also known as P100) – Strengthening of Front-Line Biosafety and Biosecurity Measures in the South East and Eastern European Region – is implemented by the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine under the European Union CBRN Centres of Excellence Initiative.
P100 will continue supporting Georgia and other partner countries of the South East and Eastern Europe region in strengthening frontline biosafety and biosecurity capacities through tailored training programs, institutional capacity building, SOP development, and regional and cross-border exercises.
STCU, together with the EU, extends its appreciation to all participants, presenters, and organizers who contributed to the success of these events. Their engagement and expertise were vital in achieving the shared mission of a safer, more secure region. This initiative underscores the EU’s and STCU's dedication to strengthening BS&S measures in the SEEE region and fostering international collaboration to mitigate biological threats effectively.
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