Chemical Agent Controversy Ignites Political Debate, While Economy Faces Headwinds and Athletes Excel in Georgia
Today, December 6, 2025, Georgia's political landscape was dominated by an escalating controversy surrounding the alleged use of chemical agents during recent protests. The State Security Service (SSS) announced that a chemical powder identified as Chlorobenzylidenemalonitrile (CS gas) was used by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) during protests in 2024. SSS further stated that this substance was acquired from an Israeli company in 2007 and 2009, explicitly denying that the chemical agent 'Kamit', referenced in a recent BBC report, was ever purchased or deployed. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze strongly supported the SSS's findings, calling the BBC report a 'special operation' and reiterating that no prohibited substances were used. He emphasized that the use of 'Kamit' would have resulted in severe health damage or even fatalities. Conversely, President Salome Zurabishvili dismissed the government's explanations as 'absurd' and urged for an independent international investigation into the matter. This call was echoed by Georgian doctors and received significant international attention, with 39 OSCE member states expressing concern over the lack of investigation into excessive force and Amnesty International advocating for an embargo on police equipment to Georgia and a global inquiry.
Economically, several reports highlighted pressing issues. Georgia is facing the highest milk prices among its neighboring countries, and overall inflation in October reached 5.2%, with food prices experiencing a notable 12% increase. Criticisms emerged regarding the proposed 2026 state budget, with analysts like Nikoloz Alavidze arguing it prioritizes increased bureaucracy and security agency bonuses over investment, potentially signaling future social tensions. Concerns also arose over car re-exports, as Russian data indicated 10.2% of used car imports in October were from Georgia, a figure vastly different from Georgian official statistics. Separately, investors are reported to owe the Ministry of Economy over $116.3 million and GEL 54.4 million in penalties for unfulfilled obligations in 2023. Positive developments included an appreciation of the Lari against the US Dollar this week, though it depreciated against the Euro.
In other domestic news, three individuals were charged by the prosecutor's office for customs violations involving over GEL 15 million worth of crude oil at the Batumi Oil Terminal. Meanwhile, the city of Kutaisi saw continued discussions on its municipal budget and local development plans. On the international front, the war in Ukraine remained a key topic, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky scheduled to meet European leaders in London, and reports detailing continued Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The potential Zangazur Corridor was discussed as a project that could be both competitive and complementary to Georgia's transit role, with a target completion year of 2030.
Georgian athletes brought significant achievements and anticipation. Judoka Ilia Sulamanidze secured a gold medal at the Tokyo Grand Slam in the -100 kg category, dedicating his victory to the late Giorgi Navelian. In MMA, Merab Dvalishvili is gearing up for a highly anticipated UFC 323 fight in Las Vegas, aiming for a record-breaking fourth title defense in a single year. On the football pitch, Iberia clinched the Georgian Championship for the second consecutive time, ensuring their participation in next year's European tournaments alongside Dila, Torpedo, and Dinamo Tbilisi. Additionally, Giorgi Mikautadze scored for Villarreal in Spain's La Liga, breaking a scoreless streak. However, football also saw a setback as Giorgi Chakvetadze sustained an injury during a Championship match, with the severity yet to be determined.