Georgian Prime Minister says no evidence of chemical use against demonstrators, vows to pursue case against BBC

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday said it was a “matter of principle” for his Government to expose the lies that the BBC spread against the Georgian people and the state.

In his interview with the Georgian Public Broadcaster, Kobakhidze noted that preparations to launch a legal dispute against the BBC were already underway.

“In two days we will hold a meeting where we will also discuss the substance of the lawsuit, and the relevant legal process will begin soon. First, we will file a complaint with the appropriate regulatory body, the British commission, and then, if necessary, we will use other relevant legal mechanisms”, the PM said.

He noted that the size of any potential financial claim has not yet been determined.

“We do not know whether we will demand 10 billion or not. Financial compensation is less important for us. What matters most is that the BBC publicly retract the shameful lie they spread consciously, by order and by assignment. I am convinced of this”, Kobakhidze said, adding that further steps would be decided based on the outcome of the legal review.

Kobakhidze strongly rejected claims made in the BBC report regarding the alleged use of chemical substances against demonstrators.

“There is no poisoned person, there are no victims, and under these conditions they claim that a chemical substance was used against protesters. This is an astonishing lie. It is like accusing someone of dropping an atomic bomb when nothing has exploded. There are no casualties, yet they speak about the use of chemical substances. That is why we will pursue this process in principle. It is important for us to expose the BBC for spreading this shameful lie”, the PM noted.

Reiterating his criticism, Kobakhidze concluded that the BBC’s standards have deteriorated significantly in recent years.

“The situation at this television company is tragic, but for us it is a matter of principle to reveal the lie that was spread against the Georgian people and our state”, he concluded.