Georgian PM on BBC report: Camite could likely have been lethal, yet no victims identified
Politics
Irakli Kobakhidze
Photo: Government Administration
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Saturday accused a British broadcaster of disseminating “false accusations” against the Georgian Government, claiming that one of the allegations - regarding the alleged use of a substance referred to as Camite - unfairly overshadowed other unfounded claims.
Speaking at a briefing held at the Government Administration, Kobakhidze said the report contained multiple inaccuracies aimed at discrediting the state, but public attention focused almost exclusively on what he described as a fabricated claim about the use of a toxic chemical during recent protests.
According to the Prime Minister, between November 28, 2024 and January 28, 2025, during a period of violent demonstrations, five individuals were admitted to medical facilities with mild intoxication symptoms and were discharged the following day.
He emphasised that no protest participant had sought medical assistance for issues related to exposure to any chemical agent.
“The chemical substance that the British broadcaster - and subsequently certain interested individuals and propagandist media outlets - claimed had been deployed by the Georgian authorities is among the most dangerous toxic agents”, Kobakhidze stated.
“Its side effects are so severe that, theoretically, had it been used, it would have caused irreversible harm to the health of those taking part in the violent demonstrations. Moreover, its impact would likely have resulted in fatal outcomes”, the PM continued.
Kobakhidze stressed that no evidence exists to support the allegations, and that no individuals have been identified as victims of exposure to such a substance.
“The report released by the British broadcaster also includes other false accusations directed against the state. These simply did not become subjects of public discussion or evaluation because the fabricated claim about the use of so-called Camite overshadowed everything else”, the Prime Minister concluded.
