Opposition UNM accuses Georgian Government of using chemical weapons against citizens

Levan Bezhashvili, a leader of the opposition party United National Movement, said the Georgian government was deploying chemical weapons and “terrorist methods” against its own people to retain power.

“This is the government that fights against its own people. This is the government that uses chemical weapons against its citizens. Dictatorial regimes that have used chemical agents, like Syria, offer a clear comparison,” Bezhashvili said.

He called for an independent international investigation into the procurement and use of the chemical agents and for all law enforcement agencies involved to be questioned.

BBC reporting indicated that last year, anti-government protesters in Georgia were exposed to a chemical substance dating back to World War I, causing symptoms including coughing, eye irritation, and vomiting that lasted for weeks. Experts consulted by BBC identified the agent as bromo-benzyl cyanide, known as Camite by the French military.