Papuashvili Calls BBC Investigation an 'Orchestrated Attack' on Georgian State
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has strongly criticized a recent BBC investigative report, describing it as a coordinated assault on the Georgian state involving European actors and domestic opposition groups.
"This was the most vile attack on the Georgian state, carried out in Europe with the assistance of Georgian radicals," Papuashvili said in response to questions about the report, which he labeled "abominable propaganda."
According to Papuashvili, the investigation was not an independent journalistic effort but a planned political operation. "This was absolutely vile propaganda," he said. "The BBC played its role, the European Parliament played its role, various European politicians played their role, and Georgian radicals played their role. This was an entirely orchestrated attack on the Georgian state."
He claimed the allegations were revived as part of an external agenda. "This was a scenario staged from outside," Papuashvili said. "That is why, a year later, they started asking who was poisoned or who had health issues that day. It was cooked abroad, and the assignment was given to stir up the story now."
Papuashvili insisted that the authorities had conducted a transparent investigation and answered all relevant questions. He said the government remains open to scrutiny. "We are ready to show all this material to any relevant international institution," he stated, questioning why such bodies had not requested access if concerns remained.
The remarks followed the publication of a BBC investigative report alleging that during protests in November and December 2024, a banned chemical substance Camite was employed to disperse demonstrators.
