Georgian opposition parties have issued a statement to Western allies in response to the investigation carried out by the BBC.

In the statement, the opposition parties call on credible international institutions to conduct an independent international investigation to determine the factual circumstances, identify those responsible, and prevent the further use of similar substances.

The parties also call on international partners to consider imposing temporary restrictions on the supply of special equipment and means that could be used in violation of international norms and against civilians.

According to the statement, such restrictions on the ruling party Georgian Dream would serve as a preventive measure and significantly reduce the risk of another grave violation of human rights.

The statement also notes that, in cooperation with democratic partners, the parties are already collecting and processing all relevant information that will be sent to international institutions.

“The latest BBC investigation presented serious evidence that, in 2024, during the violent dispersal of peaceful anti-government protests, the Georgian authorities used banned chemical substances against Georgian citizens.If confirmed, this would represent a grave violation of international norms, obligations to protect human rights, and Georgia’s commitments under international conventions.In a country where every state institution is subordinated to one person, an impartial internal investigation cannot be conducted.Predictably, the authoritarian and illegitimate government does not plan to invite an international investigative mission to ensure transparency—whereas, under such accusations, any accountable government would act exactly this way.We, the democratic opposition parties of Georgia, call on credible international institutions to conduct an independent international investigation in order to determine the factual circumstances, identify those responsible, and prevent the further use of similar substances.Additionally, we call on our international partners to consider temporary restrictions on special equipment and tools that could be used in violation of international norms and against citizens.Such restrictions on ‘Georgian Dream’ would serve as a preventive step and significantly reduce the risk of another severe violation of human rights.In cooperation with democratic partners, we are already collecting and processing all relevant information, which will be provided to international institutions.Our common goal is clear: to prevent any further use of such substances before regime change takes place, should the findings of the BBC investigation be independently confirmed.”

The statement is signed by the following opposition parties: “Akhali” (New), “Girchi”, “European Georgia”, “National Democratic Party”, “Freedom Square”, “Strategy Aghmashenebeli”, and “Federalists.”