URGENT UPDATE: New reports confirm that the Trump administration must intervene in Georgia’s escalating chemical weapons scandal. The Georgian government is under scrutiny for allegedly using the toxic substance camite against protesters during demonstrations that erupted last year.
Protests erupted across Georgia in 2022 after the ruling Georgian Dream party halted the country’s EU-Atlantic integration efforts. Demonstrators, numbering in the tens of thousands, faced possible chemical exposure from camite, a substance developed during World War I, which could cause severe long-term health consequences. Evidence gathered suggests that authorities may have mixed camite with water and used it against demonstrators through water cannons.
Reports from the BBC indicate a troubling possibility: the Georgian government might have deployed this potent toxin, which is not classified as a riot-control agent under the Chemical Weapons Convention. Medical data shows victims experiencing persistent symptoms, raising alarms among over 900 Georgian doctors who demanded clarity from the government. As of now, their calls for transparency have gone unanswered.
Authorities have shifted focus from investigating the alleged chemical deployment to probing those who raised concerns, further deepening public distrust. The implications are significant—if confirmed, the use of camite would not only violate international law but also rekindle painful memories of state violence in Georgia, harking back to the brutal dispersal of peaceful demonstrators in April 1989 when Soviet troops used toxic gas against civilians in Tbilisi.
As Georgia marks the first anniversary of the mass protests, the situation remains dire. The ruling party has intensified its crackdown on dissent, introducing harsh penalties including fines of up to $1,700 for road closures and criminal charges for “repeat protesting,” which can lead to prison terms of up to two years. Many demonstrators, including young activists, remain unjustly imprisoned, while the government continues to silence opposition voices.
Human rights advocates are increasingly alarmed as the Georgian government tightens its grip on free speech. The ruling party has implemented a Russia-style “foreign agents” law to discredit U.S.-funded organizations and has arrested eight opposition leaders on dubious charges of collusion with Western powers.
With independent oversight effectively dismantled, the call for an unbiased investigation into the use of camite is growing louder. Opposition parties are urging the international community, especially Washington, to exert pressure on Tbilisi to safeguard freedom of expression and halt its drift towards authoritarianism.
This situation is rapidly evolving, and the need for international intervention has never been more urgent. Observers worldwide are watching closely as protesters remain adamant in their demand for accountability and justice. The world must act swiftly to ensure that the voices of the Georgian people are heard.
