Chemical Agent Allegations, High-Profile Conviction, and Economic Shifts Dominate Georgian News
Today, December 05, 2025, Georgia's media landscape was largely dominated by intense debate and international scrutiny following recent allegations regarding the use of chemical agents against protestors. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International expressed "deep concern" over pressure against experts, witnesses, journalists, and human rights defenders after a BBC investigation into the alleged use of chemical substances like "Kamiti" or "Bromobenzyl Cyanide." This led to a joint statement from 39 OSCE member states highlighting concerns about the suppression of dissent in Georgia. Ongoing protests in Tbilisi saw participants marching on Rustaveli Avenue and gathering outside the government administration, demanding answers to the question: "What were you poisoning us with?"
In response to these accusations, government officials offered varied explanations and counter-arguments. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze suggested that responsibility could fall on former officials like Vano Merabishvili and Shota Utiashvili for past incidents, while Health Minister Mikheil Sarjveladze maintained that respiratory issues among protestors could be attributed to alcohol or pyrotechnics, not chemical agents. Opposition figures like Elene Khoshtaria and Khatia Dekanoidze vehemently condemned the government's stance, with Dekanoidze stating that mixing such substances with water during crowd dispersal is unacceptable and called for the disclosure of relevant documentation, asserting that the "war regime lacks political will."
Legal developments also captured significant attention, with former "Georgian Dream" Member of Parliament and veteran wrestler Luka Kurtanidze being sentenced to 7 months in prison for domestic violence against his ex-wife by the Batumi City Court. In other law enforcement news, the State Security Service (SSS) announced the arrest of 5 individuals across 6 different corruption cases, including an acting director of a Marneuli school and a Shuakhevi municipal employee. Additionally, the SSS questioned former Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri in connection with the ongoing investigation into the BBC report.
Economically, the day brought mixed signals. Georgia's international currency reserves reached a historical high of over $5.8 billion USD in November. However, the National Statistics Office reported increased prices for various services, including "khinkali" and "khachapuri" in cafes. The real estate market in Tbilisi saw significant activity with 34,204 apartments sold in the first ten months of 2025, totaling $2.8 billion USD, though experts caution about potential oversupply risks. Discussions around energy security included the EU's decision to invest €500 million in Armenia's energy diversification, which will involve a new power transmission line connecting Armenia and Georgia.
In sports, the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage was announced in Washington D.C. Georgian MMA champion Merab Dvalishvili is preparing for his UFC 323 title defense against Petr Yan, aiming for a fourth title defense in a calendar year and seeking to break consecutive win records. Meanwhile, Georgian judokas Lasha Bekauri and Guram Tushishvili withdrew from the Tokyo Grand Slam. Other news included the abolition of state grant funding for students enrolling in state universities starting in 2026, a move criticized by some academics as detrimental to education.