Georgia's Protests, a Mystery Chemical, and a Nation Seeking Answers

In the early months of 2024, Tbilisi, Georgia's capital city, became the center of widespread public unrest. Citizens took to the streets in large numbers to voice their strong disapproval of the government's approach to relations with the European Union (EU). This tense political situation took an unexpected and worrying turn when the BBC released a documentary containing serious allegations about the police's handling of the protests. The report transformed what was primarily a political issue into a significant public health concern. The situation now serves as an example of the challenges governments face when responding to journalistic scrutiny, managing public anger, and assigning responsibility.

This account will examine the BBC's claims, the government's reaction, and the unresolved questions facing a nation demanding clarity.

The Claim: An Outdated Chemical Weapon

The BBC report's central claim was that Georgian riot police may have used a hazardous, outdated chemical known as camite against protesters by mixing it into the water used in water cannons.

To fully understand the seriousness of this, it's important to know what camite is:

• It's a chemical agent, scientifically known as bromobenzyl cyanide, developed for warfare during World War I.

• Its use was discontinued in the 1930s.

• Its discontinuation resulted from significant concerns about its long-term harmful effects on people.

• Eyewitness accounts described the effects as intensely painful. As one protester told the BBC, "It felt like the water was burning."

The BBC's Evidence

The BBC's report presented evidence based on information from sources and internal documents:

• Whistleblowers: Multiple high-ranking sources within the Georgian riot police provided information. Among them was Lasha Shergelashvili, a former head of weaponry who resigned in 2022. Shergelashvili claimed the substance used in 2024 was the same one he was asked to test in 2009.

• Police Inventory: The inquiry obtained a 2019 riot police inventory document listing a "Chemical powder" with the code UN3439.

• The finding: The BBC stated that the only chemical with code UN3439 used as a riot control agent is camite.

The Government's Defensive Response

The BBC's report caused immediate controversy, and the Georgian government quickly responded defensively.

The ruling party, Georgian Dream, and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze responded by criticizing the BBC, accusing it of spreading misinformation. Kobakhidze went so far as to say the BBC documentary was a "provocation planned in the style of foreign intelligence services" intended to incite anti-government protests.

The Prime Minister admitted that a substance had been added to the water in the water cannons used on protesters. He firmly denied that the substance was camite, arguing that the code UN3439 is a broad code covering industrial chemicals, including many non-prohibited substances. The government then attempted to shift blame to the previous government.

The government claimed the substance was purchased between 2007 and 2009, when the United National Movement (UNM) was in power. They implied that if any illegal substance was used, Vano Merabishvili, the former Interior Minister, was responsible for its purchase, suggesting the current government cannot be blamed since the substance was acquired by political rivals years prior. They added that the current Interior Minister, Vakhtang Gomelauri, is not a chemist and should not be expected to verify the composition of a substance purchased so long ago.

The government maintains that the BBC report damages the country's interests. They intend to challenge the documentary legally through the UK's Communications Authority and in international courts if necessary.

Opposition's Call for an Independent Inquiry

As the government defended its position, the opposition party For Georgia voiced public alarm and called for a parliamentary investigative commission to conduct an independent investigation.

The party argued that this was necessary because the BBC report caused justifiable public outrage, and the ruling party's "chaotic, hysterical, and panicked response" has fueled public suspicion. They said the public no longer trusts the government-controlled courts and investigators to be impartial, making a parliamentary commission the only way to ensure a credible investigation.

The opposition party is pushing to determine who is accountable, asking, "Was this a systemic crime or an unlawful act committed by a specific official, endangering the lives and health of demonstrators?"

The Government's Own Inquiry

While the opposition requested its own inquiry, the government started an inquiry through its State Security Service (SSG) on the same day the BBC documentary was released.

The SSG announced it was investigating two charges:

1. Abuse of official powers: To assess the potential harm to citizens' health caused by the substance used in the water cannons.

2. Aiding a foreign organization in hostile activities: To investigate the people who provided information to the BBC.

The Prime Minister stated that what matters most is identifying who was involved in "hostile activities against Georgia’s national interests," suggesting the government is more interested in finding the BBC's sources than investigating the potential use of a dangerous chemical on its citizens.

Unresolved Questions

Georgia is now experiencing a political crisis. The BBC, citing sources and police documents, has made a serious accusation. The government has responded with denials, blame-shifting, and an inquiry aimed at the sources, rather than transparently investigating the substance. The opposition is calling for an investigation that it believes the government cannot conduct impartially.

This leaves the Georgian people with unanswered questions:

• What substance was in the water cannons, and was it harmful?

• Who is responsible? Is it the former government that purchased the substance, or is it the current government?

• Will there be an impartial investigation that satisfies both the government's critics and its supporters, or will the truth remain hidden by political conflict?

The answers are important for justice, restoring public trust, and ensuring political stability in Georgia.