Former Interior Minister on BBC report: Controversial substances used by Ministry only until 2012

“The substances in question were used by the Ministry of Internal Affairs until 2012 [during the UNM government period],” said former Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri, responding to a recent BBC report.

Gomelauri emphasised that the Ministry has not purchased or used the substances since that time.

“These substances were indeed purchased and used by the Ministry, but only until 2012. If I am not mistaken, the last purchase was made in 2009 or 2010. Since then, the Ministry has neither purchased nor used them,” he stated in an interview with Imedi TV.

For reference, the BBC has published an article titled “WW1 toxic compound sprayed on Georgian protesters, BBC evidence suggests.” In the article, the BBC discusses the alleged use of a World War I–era chemical agent during recent protests in Georgia.

The report cites several sources, including paediatrician Konstantine Chakhunashvili, former head of the Special Tasks Department Lasha Shergelashvili, and expert Christopher Holstege. Eka Gigauri and Giorgi Bachiashvili are also featured as respondents. In the material, Shergelashvili states that he believes it is the same compound he was asked to test for use in water cannon in 2009.

The BBC also notes that Georgia’s authorities described the findings as “deeply frivolous” and “absurd”, insisting that law enforcement had acted “within the bounds of the law and constitution” when responding to the “illegal actions of brutal criminals”.

Today, the Georgian Dream party issued a statement announcing that it is initiating legal proceedings against the BBC in international courts.