Historical Chemical Agent Used Against Georgian Protesters, Evidence Indicates

Authorities in Georgia resorted to a chemical agent from World War One to suppress anti-government demonstrations last year, as indicated by various pieces of evidence.

One protester described the experience of being hit by water cannons, stating, “You could feel the burning sensation, which couldn’t be washed off immediately.” The discomfort lingered for a considerable time.

Protesters opposing the government’s halt on its European Union membership bid have also reported symptoms including shortness of breath, persistent coughing, and bouts of vomiting that extended for weeks.

Experts in chemical warfare, alongside whistleblowers from Georgia’s riot control unit and medical professionals, have examined indications that link the symptoms to a substance referred to as “camite” by the French military during the war.

In response to the investigation’s findings, the Georgian government dismissed them as “absurd,” asserting that the police acted lawfully against what they termed “the illegal actions of brutal criminals.”

Camite was last known to be used by France against Germany during World War One, with documentation of its use becoming scarce afterward. It was likely withdrawn from circulation in the 1930s due to concerns over its lasting impacts.

Details from the Protests

The protests in Tbilisi began on November 28, 2024, ignited by the ruling party’s announcement to pause EU accession discussions, a goal embedded in Georgia’s constitution. The police employed various crowd management tactics, including water cannons, pepper spray, and CS gas.

Dr. Konstantine Chakhunashvili, a pediatrician present during the protests, reported that the effect of the sprayed water varied significantly from a usual tear gas reaction. His skin experienced the burning sensation for days and proved resistant to washing.

To uncover if others experienced similar reactions, Dr. Chakhunashvili utilized social media to solicit participants for a survey from those affected by crowd control measures during the protests. Approximately 350 individuals responded, with nearly half reporting persisting side effects for over 30 days.

These effects included headaches, fatigue, respiratory issues, and nausea. His findings have been peer-reviewed and accepted by the journal Toxicology Reports.

Investigative Findings

A total of 69 survey participants received direct clinical examinations by Dr. Chakhunashvili. He discovered a notable increase in heart signal abnormalities among them.

The report corroborated conclusions drawn by local activists, medical professionals, and human rights groups, suggesting that the water cannons were surely tainted with a chemical agent. Calls for the government to disclose the substance have been met with refusal from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Several whistleblowers from the Special Tasks Department, which oversees riot policing in Georgia, assisted in identifying the suspected chemical’s nature. A previous weaponry chief at the department, Lasha Shergelashvili, recalled being asked to test a similar compound for use in the year 2009.

He reported that the chemical provoked intense respiratory issues, with persistent effects that ordinary cleaning attempts could not ameliorate. Despite his recommendations against using it, Shergelashvili claims that the chemical continued to be utilized in water cannons up to 2022, when he departed from the role.

Examination of Substance Identity

From his current residence in Ukraine, Shergelashvili expressed immediate recognition of the substance currently deployed against the demonstrators when watching footage from the protests.

According to a former senior police officer, the chemical used during the protests later in 2024 was indeed the same compound tested by Shergelashvili years earlier. He asserted that the potency surpassed that of standard CS gas used for riot control.

Shergelashvili confirmed that the chemical tested was disproportionately powerful and likely contributed to long-term effects on those exposed.

Through documentation of the Special Tasks Department inventories, the investigation revealed two unrecognized chemicals: “Chemical liquid UN1710” and “Chemical powder UN3439.” A knowledgeable former police officer verified the authenticity of these items.

The chemical identified as UN1710 corresponds to trichloroethylene, a solvent facilitating the mixing of various substances. In contrast, UN3439 corresponds to various industrial chemicals, some of which have hazardous properties.

Risk Assessment and Analysis

Research into these chemicals suggested that bromobenzyl cyanide, or camite, developed for wartime use, likely constituted the mystery agent. A leading toxicology and chemical warfare academic evaluated the findings and reinforced probabilities surrounding camite’s involvement.

The combination of victim accounts, the inventory records, and the clinical effects observed leads experts to conclude a significant likelihood of bromobenzyl cyanide being responsible for the widespread symptoms.

He refuted the idea that the reactions were caused by common riot-control agents, highlighting the unusual persistence of effects similar to those synonymous with camite exposure.

Historical usage of camite as a crowd-control measure by American law enforcement after World War One, followed by its discontinuation for safer alternatives, amplifies the concerns regarding its potential resurgence.

Concluding Remarks

International laws allow the deployment of chemical agents for crowd control, provided they exhibit proportionate and brief effects. However, the findings raise alarms, with some authorities suggesting that an outdated, highly dangerous agent could qualify as a chemical weapon.

Human rights advocates, including a special rapporteur on torture, have expressed deep worries about the implications of utilizing such substances. They argue that regulations surrounding chemical usage need firm enforcement.

They emphasize that all adverse reactions from crowd-control methods should be investigated thoroughly and could indicate violations of human rights law.

Despite dwindling protest attendance due to heightened legal penalties, demonstrators continuously call for a government resignation amidst allegations of electoral manipulations and increasingly harsh laws against civic freedoms.

The ruling party has refuted claims of being pro-Russian or engaged in Russian interests, asserting that legislative actions over the past year prioritize the public’s best interest.