LONDON — Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze is pressuring the United Kingdom to issue a formal apology for a November 2024 BBC investigative report, which he claims contained false allegations regarding the use of restricted chemical agents during anti-government protests. On Tuesday, Kobakhidze declared that Tbilisi would pursue accountability through multiple channels, including filing a formal complaint with the U.K.’s media regulator, Ofcom, and initiating legal action if necessary.
The dispute stems from a BBC investigation published December 1 of the previous year, which alleged that Georgian security forces utilized chloropicrin, a chemical agent sometimes associated with World War I-era use, to disperse protesters. The Georgian government has vigorously denied this claim, asserting that the broadcaster—the U.K.’s public service entity—fabricated a scandal based on inaccurate information.
Tbilisi Pursues Legal Avenues Against Broadcaster
Prime Minister Kobakhidze stated that the government intends to employ “every legal avenue” available to secure an apology and accountability from the BBC. According to his televised remarks, Tbilisi views the report as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
“The U.K. should apologize for the false report aired by its public broadcaster,” Kobakhidze stated, as reported by TV Imedi.
The Georgian leader detailed plans to formalize the complaint with Ofcom, the U.K.’s communications and media regulatory authority. If this process does not yield a satisfactory resolution, the government will escalate the matter to the courts.
“We will use every legal means to ensure that the BBC is forced to apologize for the lie it spread,” he asserted.
Government Rebuttal and International Transparency
The Georgian government maintains that its internal investigation into the substances used during the crowd-control operations has concluded. Kobakhidze reiterated that the materials deployed were standard irritants commonly used in conjunction with water cannons, directly refuting the claim that chloropicrin was involved.
To assure international bodies and observers, the Prime Minister emphasized the administration’s commitment to transparency, noting that the full documentation from their investigation is ready for inspection.
“We have publicly stated that any international organisation may request details of this investigation, and we will provide full information,” he confirmed.
This incident highlights growing international friction between political leadership and media reporting, particularly regarding volatile domestic issues like protest suppression and the rule of law. The move to involve a foreign media regulator like Ofcom demonstrates a significant diplomatic and legal escalation by the Georgian state in response to perceived media damage. Should Tbilisi proceed with legal action in U.K. courts, it would set a notable precedent for government-initiated defamation or accuracy challenges against a country’s public broadcaster. Observers will closely monitor Ofcom’s response and the potential for a protracted international legal confrontation.