25 NGOs demand public disclosure on police use of ‘chemicals against protesters’

Twenty-five non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have called on the Georgian authorities to publicly disclose which chemical substances were allegedly used by police against peaceful protesters during November-December 2024. 

The NGOs also plan to appeal to international organizations in the coming days.

The statement reads:

“The investigative report published by the BBC on December 1, 2025, contains shocking information suggesting that the police may have used prohibited chemical agents against the Georgian people.

The violent acts committed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs during the November–December 2024 events remain uninvestigated. No one has been held accountable, while Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze publicly praised the officials responsible for these human rights violations, some of whom were sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom at the time. Additionally, the President awarded 11 of these officials with the Order of Honor.

According to the BBC film When Water Burns, investigative journalists documented that during the November 2024 protests, the regime reportedly used the chemical compound bromobenzyl cyanide in combination with water cannons. First used during World War I, bromobenzyl cyanide has been banned since 1930 due to its high toxicity and long-lasting effects on human health, making it significantly more dangerous than conventional tear gas.

The use of chemical agents against large groups of people constitutes a clear violation of international human rights norms and may be considered torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

In the past, investigative journalists from Nodar Meladze’s team and organizations such as the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association documented serious violations in the Ministry’s use of special measures. Despite repeated requests, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has not disclosed information regarding chemicals mixed with tear gas or water during crowd control.

Following the BBC report, it has become imperative to determine whether the use of bromobenzyl cyanide against protesters falls under the prohibited acts defined by the Chemical Weapons Convention.

In the coming days, we will approach relevant international organizations and institutions to allow expert teams with proper competence to fully investigate this criminal scheme.

Simultaneously, we demand a public response to the question: which chemical substances did the police use against peaceful protesters in November-December 2024?”