Prepared by Messenger Staff
Kobakhidze Dismisses BBC Investigation as 'Failed Special Operation'
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze sharply criticized the BBC's recent investigation during a briefing at the Government Administration, calling the report and the reactions that followed "a coordinated special operation" aimed at harming Georgia's interests.
Responding to a journalist's question about criticism from Western partners, Kobakhidze said the allegations "burst like a soap bubble" within days. He argued that the BBC's findings lacked credibility and insisted that "such a journalistic investigation cannot have any value."
According to Kobakhidze, the government's own evidence contradicts claims that banned chemicals were used during recent protests. "Everything is as clear as day," he said, listing investigative records, documentation about the substances and data on medical visits as proof that nothing improper occurred.
Kobakhidze contrasted the situation with events of April 9 in earlier years, when he said banned agents were used and "hospitals were full of poisoned people who required treatment for weeks." In the current case, he noted that there had been no surge in emergency visits. "Under such circumstances, how can this so-called investigation have any value?" he said.
He repeatedly characterized the episode as an unsuccessful attempt to generate political turmoil. "It was a very simple, white-thread-stitched special operation," Kobakhidze said. "The attempt to damage our state interests burst like a soap bubble."
Kobakhidze also compared the controversy to what he described as past fabricated scandals, referencing claims about Mikheil Saakashvili's alleged poisoning. He said that incident involved heavy diplomatic pressure but ultimately collapsed. "The operation we saw from the BBC and from certain local and international actors was even cheaper than that," he claimed. "When basic facts are not on your side, you cannot artificially create commotion."
Zourabichvili Calls for International Investigation, Says Government's Explanations on Chemical Use Are 'Incoherent'
Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, accused the government of providing contradictory and unconvincing information about the substance used during the 2024 protest dispersals, urging foreign organizations to step in and conduct an independent investigation.
Speaking at a rally titled "The regime is poisoning us, an international investigation must be conducted," Zourabichvili said officials had failed to clarify basic questions. She argued that neither statements from Georgian Dream leaders nor findings released by the State Security Service offered credible answers.
"All the reactions we have heard from the regime's leaders, even from the SSS investigation, are incoherent," she told demonstrators. "They don't seem to know what to say or when to say it. One person says one thing, another says something entirely different. It is obvious they have not sorted this out."
Zourabichvili said public concern was rising both domestically and internationally, and that the ruling party appeared increasingly uncertain in its messaging. She stressed that key issues remain unresolved, including the most basic question: what chemical was used during last year's dispersals.
"The questions that existed before still exist now," she said. "A real investigation is essential, but that cannot be done in this country. Foreign organizations must join the process so we can finally know what substance was used. We still do not know, and none of their explanations are convincing."
Zourabichvili reiterated that only an international inquiry could provide reliable answers and restore public trust.
