Analyst warns alleged chemical use against Georgian demonstrators would trigger major international scandal

Nino Kalandadze, Director of the Chavchavadze Centre and former foreign minister under the United National Movement government, has warned that if allegations involving the use of chemical substances against peaceful demonstrators last year in Tbilisi are confirmed, the fallout would amount to an international scandal of unprecedented scale for Georgia.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Kalandadze said such a development would go far beyond recent domestic controversies, including the dispersal of youth protests, and would fundamentally alter Georgia’s standing with its international partners.

“If this scandal is confirmed, it would be of a far greater magnitude than even serious human rights violations in Georgia, including the crackdown on young people,” she said. “Issues that are internal political matters can, at some point, be subject to distancing in international assessments. This, however, is an international-type scandal that crosses every red line.”

Kalandadze added that confirmation of chemical substance use would make any form of cooperation with the ruling Georgian Dream party effectively impossible.

“In such a case, even a theoretical possibility of cooperation with this regime would no longer exist,” she said, arguing that the repercussions would extend well beyond Georgia’s internal political context.

She also suggested that attempts to secure political support abroad would face significant obstacles, saying it would be difficult even if influential figures were to seek backing from what she described as “individual corrupt politicians” in Europe.

Earlier this year BBC reported on alleged use of banned chemical substances against demonstrators during anti-government protests, which the Georgian Dream authorities have condemned as unfounded.