The ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party has formally lodged a complaint with the BBC, accusing the British public broadcaster of disseminating false, defamatory and politically motivated allegations against the Georgian authorities. The announcement was made by Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili during a briefing.
Papuashvili stated that the complaint relates to a BBC film and accompanying materials published on December 1, 2025, which alleged that Georgian law enforcement used the World War I-era chemical agent ‘camite’ during protests. He stated that these claims are entirely unfounded and have no basis in verified evidence, stressing that Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has never possessed or used such a substance.
The Speaker said Georgian Dream is demanding a public apology from the BBC and the immediate removal of the film and all related content from its platforms. He argued that the publication violates the BBC’s own editorial standards, the UK Office of Communications (Ofcom) Broadcasting Code and core principles of responsible journalism.
Papuashvili outlined several grounds for the complaint. He said the BBC breached its obligation of accuracy by presenting unverified allegations as established fact. He also accused the broadcaster of misrepresenting the events surrounding protests in November–December 2024 by suggesting that demonstrators were peaceful and that law enforcement acted without provocation while ignoring documented acts of violence against police officers.
Another issue raised concerns impartiality. Papuashvili stated the report advances a one-sided narrative portraying the Georgian government as violent and ‘pro-Russian,’ while excluding official explanations, law enforcement accounts and broader contextual information necessary for a balanced assessment. He also rejected as baseless the claim that Georgian Dream’s Honorary Chairman, Bidzina Ivanishvili, was involved in decisions related to the dispersal of protests.
The complaint further argues that the BBC failed to respect the right to reply, noting that government representatives were approached only days before the broadcast despite the seriousness of the accusations. Papuashvili added that the report relies on statements from individuals whose credibility and potential conflicts of interest were not disclosed, resulting in speculation being presented as fact.
Under UK law, the filing of a complaint directly with the broadcaster is a required first step, which Papuashvili confirmed has now been completed. If the BBC does not address the alleged violations, Georgian Dream plans to escalate the matter to Ofcom and, if necessary, pursue legal action in UK courts. The party also reserves the right to apply to the European Court of Human Rights.
“We will use all available legal mechanisms to respond to what we view as a coordinated and damaging campaign against Georgia,” Papuashvili stated.
