GEORGIA: Chemical Weapons Against Protesters & more – 4th Dec 2025

Gamarjobat from Gracia! This is the Rorshok Georgia Update from the 4th of December twenty twenty-five. A quick summary of what's going down in Georgia.

On Monday, the 1st of December, the BBC published an investigation that suggested Georgian special forces used a toxic compound from World War I against demonstrators during the November-December twenty twenty-four pro-European protests. Experts say forces mixed the chemical, known as Kamit, or bromobenzyl cyanide, into their water cannons.

France developed Kamit during the First World War, but countries stopped using it decades ago because of its severe, long-lasting effects. Protesters reported burning skin, breathing problems, and extreme exhaustion lasting weeks after exposure. One former special forces official, who previously tested the compound, confirms its effects are much stronger than standard tear gas.

The Georgian Dream of the Kotsebi called the investigation fake news and said they will sue the BBC for disinformation.

Want to know more? Link to the article in the Show Notes.

More than 120 Georgian diplomats released a joint statement marking one year since the Kotsebi suspended talks on EU membership on the 28th of November twenty twenty-four. The diplomats say the current government's foreign policy completely ignores the will of the Georgian people and the country's constitutional mandate for European integration.

They reject the government's propaganda that the EU demanded Georgia give up its sovereignty or open a second front against Russia, saying that the requirements the Kotsebi rejected were standard criteria for all candidates, focused on strengthening the rule of law and democratic institutions.

They say that the government's shift is a step toward isolation, leaving the country vulnerable to Russian threats. They urge international partners to keep Georgia on the political agenda and continue supporting its European future.

Meanwhile, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association says the Interior Ministry refuses to follow court orders to pay damages to victims of the twenty nineteen Gavrilov Night protests.

Georgian courts ruled the Ministry must compensate several peaceful demonstrators, some of whom suffered serious injuries and are entitled to monthly state support. While the court decisions are legally final, the Ministry still fails to pay.

The European Court of Human Rights has also ruled that Georgia violated the rights of twenty-six victims. The Grand Chamber will announce its final decision on this case on the 11th of December.

Next up. Aleko Elisashvili from the Coalition Strong Georgia or Dzlieri - Lelo, is facing a charge of attempted terrorism after police arrested him on Saturday, the 29th of November. Authorities say Elisashvili broke into the Tbilisi City Court chancery building and tried to set it on fire. The Police added that court marshals caught him during the act, and he resisted arrest, physically fighting them and threatening them with a gun.

Elisashvili admitted to trying to burn the building but said he absolutely rejected the terrorism charge. He said his action was a necessary protest to set fire to injustice, repression, and violence in Georgia. Elisashvili said he chose the court because he views it as a structure carrying out the nation's oppression. He explained that once he saw court marshals in the building, he changed the plans and decided to leave, but was apprehended.

Authorities released video of Eliashvili pouring gasoline in the building and fighting with court marshals. Link in the show notes.

On Monday, the 1st, the Kotsebi Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze commented on the ongoing anti-corruption campaign, which resulted in charges against former officials, including ex-Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. He said that the fight against corruption and cartel agreements forced the government to temporarily halt several large infrastructure projects.

Kobakhidze explained that this necessary pause affected the monthly increase in money supply this year. However, he believes eliminating corruption and promoting healthy competition will pay off next year, doubling the economic benefit. He said that the government will ensure all future projects, especially in energy, railway, and infrastructure, will be cost-effective and high-quality, directly boosting the pace of the increase in the money supply.

Parents of children diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy held a protest outside the Ministry of Health on Sunday, the 30th of November. They demand that the government immediately allow access to new, modern medications currently available in European and American markets.

The parents say they have had unproductive conversations with the Ministry for months, all while their children's conditions continue to worsen. One parent confronted Misha Sarjveladze, the Health Minister, telling him that no concrete steps had been taken in two years.

Sarjveladze responded to the media, saying that the new treatments have conflicting information about their safety and effectiveness. He argues that before the government can include them in state programs, they must confirm that the medicines are truly safe and will actually help the children.

The government plans to discontinue the employment program for socially vulnerable citizens starting in twenty twenty-six. This popular program, which began in twenty twenty-two, offered public jobs with a 300 Lari salary, which is just over 100 dollars, to nearly 40,000 people who received social assistance.

On Monday, the 1st of December, The Finance Ministry submitted a budget proposal to Parliament that slashes funding for labor and employment reforms by 91 million Lari (33 million dollars) ending the current structure.

The government says the program completed its planned four-year cycle and Georgia's recent increase in the money supply has created a labor shortage, making the program unnecessary. Instead, the Ministry says it will focus on providing beneficiaries with training to help them find jobs in the private sector.

Givi Mikanadze, the Minister of Education, announced a major overhaul of the public school system starting in twenty twenty-six.

Some of the changes include: mandatory uniforms for all students in grades one through six, and all schools must use identical textbooks written by the Ministry. The final year, 12th grade, will become voluntary, while 11th grade will focus on exam subjects to cut private tutoring costs.

People who dislike the Kotsebi were against school books written by the ministry. Before that, the ministry just provided guidelines and schools could have used different textbooks. They think that centralizing this function and using the same textbooks written by the Ministry, will become a powerful tool for propaganda and indoctrination. The Second biggest reaction was against school uniforms, as it is associated with the soviet union.

On Monday, the 1st, Poland stopped offering simplified work permits to Georgian citizens. This change makes it much harder for Georgians to secure a job there, as they can no longer use the quick online application process submitted by an employer.

Poland kept the easier process for citizens from Armenia, Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine, but removed Georgia from this privileged list. Polish authorities suggest this change stems from an increased migration risk assessment, which often means concerns about the stability of employment or higher rates of citizens overstaying their permits.

On Tuesday, the 2nd, the Turkish Ministry of Transport said someone attacked a ship in the Black Sea that was carrying sunflower oil and traveling from Russia to Georgia.

The attack happened about 150 kilometers (ninety miles) off the coast of Sinop, north of Turkey. The Turkish side says that crew members were not hurt, and the ship did not need help.

We don't know who launched the attack, but it comes shortly after Ukraine said it struck two sanctioned Russian tankers in the Black Sea near Turkey's coast last week.

Finally, on Wednesday, the 3rd, the financial platform Revolut introduced restrictions that directly affect Georgia. Revolut’s popularity surged among Russians who lost access to international banking after sanctions hit Russian bank cards.

The platform now stops users from funding their accounts with cards issued in Georgia. This change complicates transactions for many people living in the country, particularly Russian emigrants and others who use the app for global transfers.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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Nakhvamdis!