Former Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri stated that the substances named in the information released by the BBC “were indeed purchased by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and used, but only until 2012.” Gomelauri’s comment was cited by Imedi.

According to the former minister, the last purchase was made in 2009 or 2010; after that, the Ministry of Internal Affairs neither acquired nor used the substances, and “the UNM dug up a cat.”

“These substances they are talking about were indeed purchased by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and used, but only until 2012. If I’m not mistaken, the last acquisition was in 2009 or 2010. Since then, the Ministry of Internal Affairs neither purchased nor used them.

I can say with full responsibility that tthe UNM dug up a cat!” — stated former Interior Minister Gomelauri.

For reference, the BBC reported that the evidence they collected indicates that the Georgian authorities used World War I–era chemical weapons last year to suppress anti-government protest rallies.

According to the BBC, “Demonstrators opposing the Georgian government’s efforts to join the European Union reported various symptoms, including eye irritation, coughing, sneezing, and vomiting, which persisted for weeks.”

The BBC also interviewed chemical weapons experts, representatives of Georgian special forces, and doctors, and found that “the evidence points to the use of an agent that the French military called ‘Camite.’”