Member of the European Parliament Rasa Juknevičienė commented on social media on the BBC’s recent coverage of Georgia.

MEP Juknevičienė asserts that the findings presented by the BBC warrant an immediate investigation by an independent authority.

“The extent to which Georgian Dream is willing to go to capture the state and silence the resilient Georgian people is shocking. Full-on Lukashenka style,” MEP Juknevičienė states.

For context: The BBC has recently published an investigative report titled: WW1 toxic compound sprayed on Georgian protesters, BBC evidence suggests. The BBC alleges the use of chemical weapons from the First World War, citing paediatrician Konstantine Chakhunashvili, former head of the Special Task Force Lasha Shergelashvili, and expert Prof Christopher Holstege as sources. Respondents also include Eka Gigauri and Giorgi Bachiashvili. In the report, Lasha Shergelashvili states that, “in his opinion, this is the same substance he was asked to test for in a water cannon in 2009.” Furthermore, the BBC states that “the Georgian authorities said our investigation findings were ‘absurd’ and the police had acted legally in response to the ‘illegal actions of brutal criminals’”.

Meanwhile, Georgian Dream announced legal action against the BBC in international courts over ‘false’ allegations.

Furthermore, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) has initiated an investigation into the BBC’s public reporting on crime.