Georgian ruling party announces legal action against BBC over ‘false reporting’

Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, has announced that it will pursue legal action against the BBC in international courts, claiming the broadcaster published false and unverified allegations against the government.

In a statement on Monday, the party said the BBC article, published earlier this week, accused the Georgian authorities of using chemical agents against protesters during last year’s anti-government demonstrations. Georgian Dream described the claims as “entirely based on the accounts of interested parties” and having “no connection to reality.”

The party specifically cited that the BBC relied on testimonies from individuals involved in the protests, including participants in the October 4 events, as well as doctors and other figures. According to Georgian Dream, the government provided detailed responses to all BBC inquiries prior to publication, which were largely ignored.

The BBC article reported that demonstrators opposing delays in Georgia’s EU integration complained of symptoms such as eye irritation, coughing, and vomiting over several weeks. The broadcaster said it consulted chemical weapons experts, Georgian special forces, and medical professionals, concluding that evidence pointed to the use of an agent referred to by French military experts as Camite.

Georgian Dream condemned the report as propaganda, claiming it was intended to undermine the government, the police, and Georgian statehood. The party said it will use all available legal avenues to hold the BBC accountable for publishing “false accusations.”