PM: ex-Interior Minister under UNM Gov’t may face liability over procurement of protest-control substance

Georgia’s Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, has suggested that a former interior minister who served under the previous United National Movement (UNM) government could face legal liability over the procurement of a protest-control chemical allegedly used during demonstrations in late 2024.

Speaking on Friday, Kobakhidze linked the purchase of the substance - the nature and classification of which remains under investigation - to decisions made in earlier administrations. He said authorities were examining documentation that traced the acquisition to senior officials who held office during the UNM era.

“Alongside the ongoing investigation, we are analysing procurement records from previous governments,” Kobakhidze said. “If it is confirmed that this substance was imported or authorised under the former interior minister [Vano Merabishvili], then relevant legal responsibility will follow.”

Kobakhidze added that the investigation aimed to establish whether the chemical agents deployed by police during the 2024 November–December ani-Governmnet protests were legacy stockpiles or materials acquired more recently. He said the government intended to present findings once the review was completed.

The remarks come amid broader calls from civil society groups, with 25 NGOs issuing a joint statement demanding full transparency over what chemicals were used during the protests. They urged the government to publicly disclose all documentation and to cooperate with international experts if needed.

The statements come amid recent BBC investigation which pointed to alleged use of toxic agent Camite against demonstrators during Tbilisi protests late last year, which were sparked by the government’s decision to delay the country’s EU integration until 2028.