“The substance was mixed in - the important question is whether this substance was prohibited. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has already confirmed that the substance Camite was not used, and that the Ministry has never acquired it, including during the United National Movement government,” - Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said in response to a journalist who reminded him of last year’s statements by the Interior Minister and his deputy, in which they acknowledged that a specific substance had been added to the water cannon.

When asked whether the Ministry of Internal Affairs plans to publish what exactly was mixed into the water cannon, Kobakhidze replied that once the investigation concludes, the public will receive detailed information.

“Regarding the claims about the use of Camite, this was presented by the BBC as a proven fact. However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has already confirmed that this substance was not used, and that the Ministry has never acquired it - not even during the United National Movement government.

The investigation is ongoing. It is being conducted by the State Security Service, and all details related to the powder will be made public.

The first information that has been released is that Camite was not used. Accordingly, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has already exposed the BBC’s falsehood. Detailed information will be published after the investigation concludes.

The Ministry denied the use of Camite based on the documentation and analyses at its disposal.

Since the BBC has already been exposed in a lie by the Ministry, we intend to appeal both to the British communications regulator and, if necessary, to international justice. BBC must retract the false information it disseminated.”

When a journalist asked whether the Prime Minister could rule out the possibility that other prohibited substances - not just Camite - were used during the dispersal of protests, Kobakhidze responded:

“I think so.”

He then added: “I think so because the Interior Ministry would likely have checked what type of powder Vano Merabishvili purchased back in the day. However, this is only my assumption. It is better to wait for the official investigation and its results.

It would not be serious for me to get ahead of the investigation and tell you whether prohibited or non-prohibited substances were used. What is serious is urging everyone to wait for the investigation and receive answers from there.

The investigation has started, and it must determine what substances the powder contained. How could I make such an unserious statement and declare what it did or did not contain?”