22:00, 6 December 2025

Protesters in Tbilisi expressed disbelief at security forces' claims of "kamit"

Participants in Tbilisi, on the 374th day of daily protests, demanded an international investigation into the use of "kamit" to disperse demonstrators in November-December 2024. They announced weekly marches until their demand is met.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," the Georgian State Security Service (SSS) has launched an investigation following a BBC report that the country's authorities used chemical agents against protesters during the dispersal of anti-government rallies in Tbilisi in 2024. Participants in daily protests outside the Georgian parliament since December 1 have been demanding a full investigation. On December 5, they also demanded the names of the chemicals used to disperse the protesters be made public. The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs never purchased "kamit"; it purchased and used a substance called "chlorobenzylidine malononitrile" at the protests, the SSS stated on December 6. The SSS has closed its investigation into abuses of power by security forces but has continued its investigation into hostile actions against the country in connection with the BBC report.

For the second year, daily protests have been taking place in Georgia demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of all those detained for participating in the demonstrations. Demonstrators blocked traffic on Rustaveli Avenue for 343 consecutive days. Beginning on November 6 , security forces prevented activists from blocking traffic, forming a human wall of police officers along the roadway, and detaining protesters for attempting to enter the road. From then until November 26, supporters of European integration held daily marches through central Tbilisi, taking various routes.

"The regime is poisoning us; an international investigation must be conducted" – this is the slogan under which a march is taking place in the center of Tbilisi.

Citizens gathered near the Philharmonic Hall are marching toward the parliament building. The protesters are demanding an international investigation to determine the type of substance used in the water cannon used by police to disperse the protest in November-December 2024.

Protesters say they don't trust the local investigation and demand an international inquiry to establish the truth. The marchers blocked the road.

Opposition politicians are also present at the rally, Interpressnews reports.

Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, who is participating in today's protest, stated on TV Pirveli that questions about the possible use of chemicals to disperse rallies in November-December 2024 still exist. "All the questions that existed still exist and require a real investigation, which, unfortunately, cannot be done in this country. We need foreign organizations to participate in this investigation to know exactly what chemicals were used. We don't know yet, and none of their answers are convincing," she said, according to the TV station's website.

Arrests began during the protest, with security forces detaining protester Georgiy Melitauri near the government administration building.

Protesters said marches demanding a full investigation into the use of "kamit" would take place every Saturday, Publika reports.

According to videos published by JamNews, the protesters were walking along the roadway.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called the BBC's investigation into the possible use of chemical weapons against protesters in Tbilisi "hybrid violence" and an "anti-Georgian campaign" and threatened "severe punishment" for those who appeared in the British Broadcasting Corporation's documentary.

"All individuals or groups of individuals against whom sufficient evidence has been collected and it has been proven that their intentional actions have caused grave damage to Georgia's national interests, international image, and reputation, and that their actions were aimed at violating Georgia's state interests, will be punished to the fullest extent of the law," Kobakhidze was quoted as saying by Novosti Georgia.

He believes that the purpose of their actions was to “undermine the stability and statehood” of Georgia and “incite yet another confrontation in society using fictitious topics.”

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Source: https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/418855