Georgia Under Scrutiny: Authorities question Witnesses Following Chemical Agent Allegations
Following a BBC broadcast detailing allegations of unlawful force used against protesters in Georgia, individuals who contributed facts to the report – including experts, witnesses, and human rights defenders – have been summoned for questioning by the State Security Service (SSG). Thes summons, according to reports, utilized procedures typically reserved for serious criminal investigations.The Georgian authorities claim the testimonies provided may constitute a criminal offense, alleging harm to the nation’s interests and reputation.
Dr. Konstantine Chakhunashvili, who assessed protesters possibly exposed to chemical agents, was questioned less than 24 hours after the documentary aired.His colleagues, David Chakhunashvili and Gela Ghunashvili, co-authors of a study examining injuries potentially caused by toxic chemicals deployed against protesters, were also interrogated regarding their dialog with journalists.
The questioning extends to civil society organizations. Representatives from the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) and Transparency International georgia, both of which provided publicly available information to the BBC, have been summoned before magistrate judges.
Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, condemned the actions, stating, “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 affect on freedom of expression.”
Amnesty International highlights this as part of a broader pattern of Georgian authorities attempting to shield law enforcement from accountability, citing documented systemic abuse of the justice system to suppress dissent and foster impunity for human rights violations committed by law enforcement.
The organization is calling for self-reliant international scrutiny of the allegations. Specifically, Amnesty International urges the creation of an international mechanism of enquiry into the alleged use of toxic chemicals against protesters and other instances of unlawful force employed by Georgian law enforcement during the 2024 protests.They also call on state parties to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to support a Fact-Finding Mission.
Furthermore, Amnesty International is advocating for a complete embargo on the transfer of policing equipment and weapons to Georgia, arguing that “States must ensure that equipment capable of causing harm is not supplied to a goverment that has already violated basic human rights,” as stated by krivosheev.
