Georgia’s political landscape has been jolted once again as authorities open a sweeping investigation into a BBC Eye report alleging that police deployed a World War I-era chemical agent against anti-government protestors in November 2024. While the government insists the claims are “absurd,” the State Security Service of Georgia (SSS) has nevertheless launched a probe-not only into the alleged use of the agent, but also into the BBC’s sources, motives, and possible foreign collusion. The move has raised concerns among human rights groups and opposition supporters about a growing pattern of retaliation against whistleblowers and international media.

The controversy traces back to a BBC Eye investigation published on December 1, which alleged that Georgian law enforcement deployed an obsolete chemical known as Camite during mass protests in Tbilisi. The protests, which erupted after the ruling Georgian Dream party announced it would suspend EU accession talks until 2028, grew into some of the most intense demonstrations the country had seen in years. Tens of thousands took to the streets, accusing the government of deliberately steering Georgia away from its long-standing pro-European trajectory.

According to BBC Eye, the crowd-control measures used by police may have included not only conventional tear gas and water cannons but also Camite, a chemical irritant dating back more than a century. Once used in World War I, Camite is now considered dangerously unpredictable, capable of causing severe respiratory distress, nausea, and prolonged health effects. The report cited testimony from doctors, former law enforcement officers, and chemical weapons........

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