The gas sector: the political crisis continues in Georgia
A major scandal broke out in Georgia over British media reports. They stated that the security forces used the banned poisonous substance kamit, which was used during the First World War, to disperse opposition rallies. The republic's authorities deny all charges, while opponents of the ruling party demand an international investigation. Izvestia investigated the situation.
Water with kamite
The BBC Corporation has released an investigation stating that Georgian security forces used the banned chemical kamit (brombenzyl cyanide) during the dispersal of pro-European rallies at the end of last year. It was allegedly mixed with water, which was then sprayed from water cannons.
It is emphasized that the victims experience burning of the skin, severe cough and difficulty breathing, and the effect lasts longer than usual. In this regard, international organizations are now sanctioning the use of standard tear gas by the police, which is considered safer.
As evidence, the media cite the testimony of pediatrician Konstantin Chakhunashvili, who has repeatedly participated in protest actions. According to him, after exposure to water cannons, his skin "burned" for several days, and when he tried to wash it only got worse. At the same time, the man conducted a survey on his social networks, more than 150 people informed him that they were experiencing the same symptoms.
Another protester, Keto Homerici, complained that she still could not recover from the crackdown on last year's protests. "The pressure can suddenly rise to 160, and drop to 90 in a minute. I can't even take my medication at times like this. Doctors won't make a diagnosis in any way, and I didn't have any complaints before the rallies," she notes.
The journalists also talked with Lasha Shergelashvili, who back in 2009, that is, when Mikhail Saakashvili was still in power, tested liquid for water cannons. According to him, after those trials he could not breathe freely. The investigators also reported that they had received a copy of the inventory list of special forces units dated December 2019, which allegedly contained two unnamed chemical compounds.
Disputes about chemistry
The country's authorities have categorically denied all charges. The ruling Georgian Dream party has issued a special statement saying that the published material is a stream of lies based on the stories of interested parties. It is emphasized that at the stage of preparation of the investigation, officials gave their comments to journalists, but they ignored them.
The statement also says that the BBC has become a propaganda weapon of the "deep state" and is engaged in executing orders and spreading disinformation. In this regard, the Georgian authorities recall another recent case, when it turned out that the BBC arbitrarily distorted the words of Donald Trump, attributing to him a call to storm the Capitol. After that scandal, Tim Davey, CEO of the corporation, resigned.
The ruling party also promised to initiate legal proceedings against the corporation in international instances. In turn, the speaker of the Georgian parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, said that this is not just a journalistic stuffing, but a coordinated campaign. "We can clearly see how outside assignments and agents inside the country are working together to spread false information," he said.
There was some confusion among the security forces. Former Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri said that the ministry does have reserves of kamite, but the substance was purchased during the reign of Mikhail Saakashvili, and the compound was not used after 2012. Acting Interior Minister Gela Geladze said that the agency had never received the specified substance at all. "I have personally checked the relevant documentation," he stressed.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobkakhidze said that the Ministry of Internal Affairs had never purchased kamite, but certain substances were added to the water for water cannons. "A full-fledged analysis will be carried out, and the specified information will be provided to the public. An analysis of the powder should be carried out," he said.
In connection with the publication, the Georgian State Security Service launched its investigation into the article on assistance to a foreign organization "in enemy activities," the security forces have already interrogated several persons involved in the material, including doctor Konstantin Chakhunashvili. At the same time, the Georgian opposition demands an international investigation into the publication of the material, because justice allegedly cannot be achieved inside the country.
Former President Mikheil Saakashvili has appealed to the International Criminal Court in The Hague with a request to initiate appropriate proceedings. Seven opposition parties and 25 pro-Western NGOs also called for the help of foreign specialists. "The authoritarian government is not going to invite an international investigation team, although any responsible government would do just that with such accusations," the appeal emphasizes.
What the experts say
Georgian political analyst Zaal Andjaparidze notes that the BBC film was made in clear violation of journalistic standards.
— The prosecution's point of view is mainly presented, the position of the authorities is minimally reflected. All this resembles the handwriting of the British special services, who like to provoke political crises with the help of information stuffing, to aggravate the situation in those countries that they have chosen for themselves. Perhaps they realized that the Georgian opposition was running out of steam, so they decided, as they say, to throw some firewood at them," he argues.
Petre Mamradze, a former member of the Georgian parliament, says there will be no consequences for the current scandal.
— It's just a curiosity of some kind. We are talking about the events of a year ago, for a whole year all these alleged victims were silent about their injuries, and now for some reason they are remembered. This is a pure provocation, which is also done very clumsily. I note that the BBC became the source of the stuffing. They were once considered the standard of honest journalism, but now they have descended to spreading primitive propaganda," he explains.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
