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13/ Former senior STD officials confirmed with BBC that the substance mentioned by Shergelashvili is indeed listed in their protocol.

13/ During the test, Shergelashvili discovered that the substance used was ten times stronger than usual. He also says a former colleague confirmed to him that the substance was used during the protests.

12/ Lasha Shergelashvili, who headed the weapons division at the Special Task Dep, said that in 2009 he was asked to test a new substance with the same codes identified by the British publication.

11/ The document also includes instructions for mixing these substances. The BBC spoke with former senior officials of the Special Task Department.

10/ 2. A chemical liquid coded UN1710. According to the report, it is trichloroethylene, which is used to dissolve chemicals in water.

9/ 1. A chemical powder coded UN3439, which includes a broad group of industrial chemicals. However, according to the BBC, only Camite from this group has historically been used against demonstrators.

8/ According to the BBC investigation, journalists obtained a confidential document - the 2019 inventory list of the Special Tasks Department. Whistleblowers from the department confirmed the authenticity of the document. The document lists two noteworthy substances:

7/ The fact that gas was mixed into the water cannon was also confirmed on October 24, 2024, by former Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri.

6/ “If necessary, it is possible that appropriate compounds, whether gas or something else, may be mixed into the water cannon,” Darakhvelidze said at the time. However, he insisted that everything was done legally.

4/ Irakli Kobakhidze said that a compound was indeed mixed into the water jet when the 2024 protests were dispersed; however, he claimed it was not Camite. According to him, “the investigation will determine what was mixed in.”

3/ Journalists, doctors, and civil organizations stated immediately after the start of the November–December 2024 protests that chemical substances had allegedly been mixed into the water cannon.

2/ The case concerns a BBC journalistic investigation published on December 1, according to which a toxic compound used during World War I, “Camite,” or bromobenzyl cyanide, was used to disperse demonstrators at the protests in Georgia in November–December 2024.

1/ "The regime is poisoning us with chemical weapons" – stencils with this inscription have appeared on the streets of Tbilisi.

#TerrorinGeorgia

8/ The State Security Service (SSG) launched an investigation into the BBC report under Article 333 of the Criminal Code, which concerns abuse of official powers, and Article 319, which concerns assisting a foreign organisation in hostile activity.

7/ According to the BBC investigation published on December 1, toxic chemical “Camite” - bromobenzyl cyanide, previously used during World War I -was used in Georgia in November–December 2024 to disperse protesters at demonstrations. It was mixed into the water cannon stream.

6/ "We continue to urge our colleagues in Congress to pass the MEGOBARI Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide the State Department with additional tools to support the Georgian people’s struggle for freedom".

5/ "We call on the U.S. government and our democratic allies to verify these reports and impose relevant sanctions on those responsible".

3/ "These chemical attacks left victims with burns and long-term health complications and are a violation of the human rights commitments that Georgian authorities are obliged to uphold".

2/ “Recent findings that Georgian Dream used a chemical weapon against peaceful protestors last year are deeply disturbing".

1/ The bipartisan U.S. Helsinki Commission responds to the possible use of a toxic substance alongside water cannons during last year’s protests in Tbilisi, Georgia:

Georgia continues to protest.

Day 371

#GeorgiaProtests

8/ The State Security Service (SSG) launched an investigation into the BBC report under Article 333 of the Criminal Code, which concerns abuse of official powers, and Article 319, which concerns assisting a foreign organisation in hostile activity.

7/ According to the BBC investigation published on December 1, toxic chemical “Camite” - bromobenzyl cyanide, previously used during World War I, was used in Georgia in November–December 2024 to disperse protesters at demonstrations. It was mixed into the water cannon stream.

6/ As for the use of ‘Camite’ - this has already been denied by the Interior Ministry, based on the documents in its possession,” said the Georgian Dream Prime Minister.

5/ As for the rest - an investigation is under way, led by the State Security Service. All details will be made public once the investigation is completed.

4/ however, the Interior Ministry has already confirmed that not only was this substance not used, it has never been purchased by the Ministry, including during the United National Movement’s rule.

2/ As for adding a substance to the water cannon — a substance was indeed added. The key point is whether this substance was prohibited. As for the information regarding the use of ‘Camite’, the BBC spoke about this in a declarative manner;

1/ Irakli Kobakhidze confirms that a certain substance was used in the water cannon deployed to disperse citizens during the protest rallies of November–December 2024. However, he denies that this substance was Camite. According to him, “the key question is whether this substance was prohibited.”

The SSG has summoned everyone who appeared in the BBC investigation on the use of Camite against protesters during the 2024 Tbilisi protests. Among them is Zviad Maisashvili, a young man brutally beaten by police, who recounts the attack in the documentary.

The State Security Service has summoned Dr. Konstantine Chakhunashvili for questioning. His research appears in the BBC investigation.

“They are now coming to deliver the notice at the Tsitsishvili Clinic. I requested to be questioned before a judge,” writes Chakhunashvili.