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Georgia Accused of Deploying Banned Chemical Agent Against Protesters
Georgian authorities allegedly used bromobenzyl cyanide-a World War I-era chemical weapon-against anti-government demonstrators in late 2024, a BBC World Service investigation suggests. Protesters, doctors, and police whistleblowers report severe, long-lasting symptoms inconsistent with standard riot-control agents like tear gas.
Protesters Describe Prolonged Agony After Water Cannon Exposure
Demonstrators in Tbilisi last November described water cannon sprays causing burning sensations that worsened with washing, along with respiratory distress, vomiting, and fatigue persisting for weeks. Konstantine Chakhunashvili, a pediatrician and protester, surveyed nearly 350 affected individuals; nearly half reported symptoms lasting over 30 days. His peer-reviewed study, accepted by Toxicology Reports, found 69 cases with cardiac electrical abnormalities linked to the exposure.
"It was worse when trying to wash it off," Chakhunashvili told the BBC, detailing skin irritation that endured for days. Local journalists and civil rights groups had earlier demanded transparency from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which refused to disclose the water cannon's contents.
Whistleblowers Link Chemical to 2009 Police Tests
Lasha Shergelashvili, former head of weaponry for Georgia's riot police (Special Tasks Department), confirmed testing an unusually potent chemical in 2009 that matched protesters' 2024 symptoms. "The effect was not wearing off," he said, recalling how he and colleagues struggled to breathe even after decontamination attempts. Despite his recommendation against its use, he claims the chemical remained in water cannon arsenals through at least 2022.
Shergelashvili, now in Ukraine, recognized the agent from 2024 protest footage. A second high-ranking ex-officer corroborated that the same compound-not CS gas-was deployed last November. "It was probably 10 times stronger" than conventional agents, Shergelashvili said, noting its persistence: "If spilled, the area stays uninhabitable for days."
Inventory Records Point to Bromobenzyl Cyanide (Camite)
A leaked 2019 police inventory, verified by a former riot officer, listed two chemicals: UN1710 (trichloroethylene), a solvent, and UN3439, a hazardous industrial category. Among UN3439's possible compounds, only bromobenzyl cyanide-or camite-matches historical use as a riot agent. Developed by France in WWI, camite was phased out by the 1930s due to its severe, lasting effects.
Prof. Christopher Holstege, a chemical weapons expert, reviewed the evidence-including Chakhunashvili's study, victim testimonies, and the inventory-and concluded: "The clinical findings are consistent with bromobenzyl cyanide." He dismissed CS gas as a possible cause, citing the symptoms' persistence: "This is exceedingly dangerous if true."
"It would keep people away for a long time. They couldn't decontaminate. They'd have to leave the area or go to the hospital."
Prof. Christopher Holstege, toxicology expert
Legal and Human Rights Violations Alleged
International law permits riot-control chemicals only if proportionate and temporary. Experts argue camite's severity and longevity could classify it as a chemical weapon. Alice Edwards, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, called the findings "experimental weapon" use, violating human rights: "Populations should never be subjected to experiments."
Georgia's government dismissed the investigation as "deeply frivolous" and "absurd," insisting police acted lawfully against "brutal criminals." The Georgian Dream party denied pro-Russian allegations, framing recent laws as benefiting "public welfare."
Protests Persist Amid Crackdown
Nightly demonstrations on Rustaveli Avenue continue, though smaller after harsher fines and jail terms were imposed. Protesters demand resignations, alleging election fraud, Russian alignment, and repressive civil society laws. The government maintains its policies serve national interests.
