The BBC investigation into substances used during the dispersal of protesters in Georgia became a subject of debate at a session of Parliament’s Defence Committee, where Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze was present. Specifically, Sopio Khorguani, a member of the Gakharia for Georgia party, criticised the bill presented by Aleksandre Darakhvelidze regarding amendments to the “Law on Weapons”, stating that it was incomprehensible to ban pepper spray canisters and electric shock devices purchased for self-defence purposes, when she herself, along with rally participants, had been poisoned to such an extent that she cannot discover what substance was added to the water cannons to this day.

The Committee Chair dismissed the BBC investigation as fake.

The Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, meanwhile, stated that the police had not used any ‘camite’ whatsoever. According to him, these are merely the journalist’s assumptions and are not supported by evidence.

According to Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, when there is an attempted coup d’état and police officers are being injured, the police have both the right and the obligation to use substances permitted by law.

“The facts presented in the BBC film are merely the journalist’s assumptions and are not supported by any concrete evidence. As regards the police, it has the right, in circumstances provided for by law, when there is mass disorder, total assaults on the police, an attempted coup d’état, a storming of Georgia’s Parliament, 171 police officers injured, so-called Molotov cocktails being thrown, a barrage of fireworks, people and police officers being injured by these ‘peaceful protesters,’ in this case, the police has not merely the right but the obligation to use the special measures provided for by law, which are listed. These are water cannons, tear gas, physical force, and other measures, the list of which is exhaustively specified in the law.

As regards the specific substance in question, I confirm once again, and the Minister also noted, that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has not purchased or used any ‘camite’ whatsoever, nor could it have done so; no such substance exists in our possession,” stated Aleksandre Darakhvelidze.

As to specifically what substance was used, Darakhvelidze said that “we shall not get ahead of events”.

“An investigation is ongoing, and once it is completed, it will be made public. It will be clear that no substances were used in this operation that any European or American police force would not employ in similar circumstances. Everyone can see that, from November 28 to December 5, 2024, there was no peaceful rally on Rustaveli Avenue. What took place was violence, a storming, an attempt to overthrow the state authorities. Seventeen-one police officers were injured, the front façade of the Parliament building was damaged, and around sixty office rooms were set on fire,” declared Aleksandre Darakhvelidze.