“We urge the government not to raise further questions, but to genuinely ascertain the extent of harm suffered by Georgian citizens’ health. We demand full transparency of information and insist that the World Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons be brought into the process,” stated Tazo Datunashvili, a member of Lelo-Strong Georgia, during a recent briefing.

Datunashvili emphasised the necessity of involving international experts in this matter.

“More than a week has passed since the British public-service broadcaster, the BBC, based on a wide range of information and evidence, released an extensive documentary suggesting that, last December, nearly a year ago, procedures and substances prohibited by international conventions may have been used against protesters. These claims have raised many questions within society. Rather than providing clear answers to the concerns raised, even by the documentary itself, the authorities seem intent on creating additional ambiguity, involving multiple branches of government to muddy the waters.

Despite the Georgian Dream government’s efforts to swiftly demonstrate that they have conducted a thorough investigation, the briefing held at the State Security Service (SSSG) and the announcement of the so-called conclusion of the investigation have only deepened public scepticism. It does not matter what one’s political stance is; what matters is the health and safety of Georgian citizens, who may have been subjected to inhumane measures to disperse protests.

The way out of this crisis is transparency. The process must be open to reveal what procedures were actually carried out, whether any additives were introduced into the water cannons, and if these additives were highly toxic. These questions can only be answered if the entire process is transparent, which is standard international practice. In all civilised countries, investigations of this nature are conducted openly.

For the Georgian people to have confidence in the process, international experts must be involved, specifically, the participation of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, to which Georgia is a signatory. An independent, full investigation must be undertaken to determine whether any violations of the convention have occurred.

Therefore, we urge the government not to be sidetracked by propaganda or to raise unwarranted questions, but to sincerely determine the true impact on the health of Georgian citizens. We demand full disclosure of the information and transparency throughout the process. We insist that the World Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons be involved in this investigation.

Unfortunately, trust in law enforcement agencies in Georgia has been severely compromised,” concluded Tazo Datunashvili.