Georgian Government Files Third Complaint Against BBC Over Investigation
Tbilisi, Georgia – The Georgian government is pursuing a third formal complaint against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) following a December 2025 investigative report concerning alleged unlawful use of force during protests in Tbilisi. Georgian Dream officials maintain the broadcaster’s reporting is damaging to the country’s reputation. Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili announced April 18th that the government is preparing to file a third complaint against the BBC.
This action follows a previous complaint filed on January 14, 2026, alleging violations of journalistic standards and demanding the removal of the article and documentary. The BBC report detailed claims that Georgian authorities utilized a World War I-era chemical agent, “kamit,” during the dispersal of pro-European demonstrations in 2025, alongside accusations of unlawful force against protesters. Papuashvili expressed frustration with the BBC’s internal review process, stating that the British legal system has proven “problematic.” He indicated that the initial review, conducted within the BBC’s journalistic team, dismissed the complaint, followed by a negative decision from the editorial group that approved the original publication.
“It turns out that the British legal system is a nightmare,” Papuashvili stated. “They reviewed our complaint and said: the journalists who came up with this falsehood examined your case and rejected it.”
The Georgian government has indicated a willingness to pursue legal action, including potential appeals to the European Court of Human Rights. Amnesty International has called for an investigation into the alleged use of “kamit” and a potential embargo on police equipment for Georgia.
Lawyers are preparing to present evidence of chemical exposure suffered by victims of water cannon use in Georgian courts. The dispute remains ongoing against the BBC, with the Georgian government continuing to challenge the broadcaster’s reporting.
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