Source: Amnesty International –
The appalling response by Georgian authorities to allegations that prohibited toxic chemicals were used against protestors to suppress peaceful demonstrations must be met with an international investigation and a complete embargo on all policing equipment, Amnesty International said today in a public statement.
On 1 December 2025, the BBC documentary When Water Burns presented evidence suggesting that water cannon deployed during protests in Georgia in November-December 2024, sprayed water mixed with bromobenzyl cyanide. This World War I-era tear gas, also known as camite, is an harmful toxic chemical that can cause burns, vomiting, shortness of breath and other serious long-lasting injuries. The findings reinforced concerns previously raised by local watchdogs, medical professionals and Amnesty International about the alleged use of toxic chemicals against protestors during the 2024 anti-government rallies.
The Georgian authorities’ immediate reaction was to deny the allegations. The ruling party has publicly denounced the BBC documentary as containing “absurd and false claims” and labelled the BBC a “fake media” organisation. However, following public outcry over the BBC report, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSG) announced an investigation into the allegations. But instead of taking steps to establish the relevant facts and verify the evidence presented, Georgian authorities have begun targeting experts, witnesses, human rights defenders and journalists whose testimonies were presented in the documentary, on suspicion of “abuse of official powers” and “assisting a foreign organization in hostile activity”.
“The Georgian authorities are responding to these serious allegations with a Kafkaesque combination of measures: on the one hand, a wave of fear-mongering and reprisals against witnesses and journalists who came forward; on the other, outright denial and dismissal of evidence as ‘absurd’ – all while keeping the appearance that the investigation into injuries sustained by protesters is underway,” said Denis Krivosheev Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The Georgian authorities are responding to these serious allegations with a Kafkaesque combination of measures: on the one hand, a wave of fear-mongering and reprisals against witnesses and journalists who came forward; on the other, outright denial and dismissal of evidence as ‘absurd’ – all while keeping the appearance that the investigation into injuries sustained by protesters is underway
Denis Krivosheev Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Experts, witnesses and civil society targeted
Following the BBC broadcast, experts, witnesses and human rights defenders who shared information were summoned for questioning by the SSG, including under procedures typically used for serious criminal cases. The authorities alleged that their testimonies may amount to a criminal offence, by harming Georgia’s national interests and reputation.
On 2 December, Konstantine Chakhunashvili, a doctor who assessed protesters exposed to chemical agents, was summoned less than 24 hours after the documentary aired. He and his colleagues, David Chakhunashvili and Gela Ghunashvili, who co-authored the study into the injuries caused by the toxic chemicals used against protesters, were also questioned about their contacts with journalists.
Representatives of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) and Transparency International Georgia, both of which provided publicly available information to the BBC, were also summoned before magistrate judges.
“By branding the sharing of information with journalists as ‘hostile activity’ and summoning and casting experts, civil society groups, and victims as threats to ‘state interests,’ the authorities are undermining the integrity of the investigation and creating a chilling effect on freedom of expression for those contradict government narratives,” said Denis Krivosheev.
By branding the sharing of information with journalists as ‘hostile activity’ and summoning and casting experts, civil society groups, and victims as threats to ‘state interests,’ the authorities are undermining the integrity of the investigation
Denis Krivosheev Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Call for accountability and a complete embargo on transfers of policing equipment
The SSG’s flawed investigation is part of a wider pattern in which Georgian authorities seek to shield law enforcement from accountability. Amnesty International has consistently documented the systemic abuse of the justice system to silence dissent and sustain a climate of impunity for human rights violations committed by law enforcement officers.
“The intimidation of experts and witnesses, combined with the authorities’ perverse approach to the very idea of an investigation into these allegations, makes independent international scrutiny essential,” said Denis Krivosheev
“Amnesty International calls for the creation of an international mechanism of enquiry into the alleged use of toxic chemicals against protesters and other use of unlawful force by Georgian law enforcement during 2024 protests and for state parties to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to support a Fact-Finding Mission.”
In addition, Georgia’s international partners must adopt robust measures, including a compete embargo on transfers of law enforcement equipment and weapons used against protesters.
States must ensure that equipment capable of causing harm is not supplied to a government that has already violated basic human rights
Denis Krivosheev Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia
“States must ensure that equipment capable of causing harm is not supplied to a government that has already violated basic human rights,” Denis Krivosheev said.