WASHINGTON—U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger Wicker (MS), Co-Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02), Ranking Member Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), and Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09) today issued the following statement in response to credible evidence that Georgian authorities used a World War I-era chemical weapon against peaceful protesters.
“Recent findings that Georgian Dream used a chemical weapon against peaceful protestors last year are deeply disturbing. These chemical attacks left victims with burns and long-term health complications and are a violation of the human rights commitments that Georgian authorities are obliged to uphold. Such behavior places Georgian Dream in league with corrupt rulers in Russia and China who fear their own people and will stop at nothing to maintain their grip on power.
“We call on the U.S. government and our democratic allies to verify these reports and impose relevant sanctions on those responsible. We continue to urge our colleagues in Congress to pass the MEGOBARI Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide the State Department with additional tools to support the Georgian people’s struggle for freedom.”
On Sunday, November 30, BBC reported that Georgian authorities used water cannons to spray a chemical called camite at protestors last year. According to the report, which relies on information from experts and whistleblowers from Georgia’s riot police, the chemical was invented for use during World War I and taken out of circulation in the 1930’s because of its long-term health effects. This revelation comes as Georgians enter their second year of daily demonstrations, protesting the ruling Georgian Dream party’s decision to rig elections and derail Georgia’s path towards Euro-Atlantic integration. Since protests began in October 2024, Georgian Dream has dragged the country further towards authoritarianism by cracking down on independent media, imprisoning dissenters, and deepening relationships with Russia and China.
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