Georgian PM criticizes BBC, comparing it to local fake news outlets

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has sharply criticized the BBC, claiming that the once highly reputable broadcaster now spreads “nonsense”.

As Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media, Kobakhidze stated: “It is unacceptable for the BBC, an international media outlet, to operate by the same standards as fake television channels in Georgia. Yet we see that the standards have completely equalized—in a negative sense. And when the BBC allows itself to lie, it requires an appropriate response. The Ministry of Internal Affairs will provide a detailed explanation of what falsehoods the BBC has spread.”

The Prime Minister further condemned the BBC for relying on statements from father and son Chakhunashvili, whom he described as active participants in radical actions, noting that one of them was involved in the storming of the presidential residence on 4 October 4. Kobakhidze called this reliance “a tragic phenomenon.”

The BBC report, published on December 1, claims that Georgian security forces used a World War I-era chemical agent known as "camite" in water cannons to disperse anti-government protests in Tbilisi during late 2024.

The controversy has reignited debates over police tactics during the 2024 protests, which erupted after the government's announcement of pausing EU accession talks until 2028. The BBC's findings, based on interviews with nearly 350 affected protesters, whistleblowers from Georgia's riot police, and medical experts, suggest the use of an obsolete riot-control agent that caused prolonged symptoms like burning sensations, coughing, shortness of breath, and skin irritation—effects inconsistent with standard tear gas.

By Vafa Guliyeva