Protesters Denounced for Employing Unidentified Chemicals: GYLA Labels this Unlawful
👉💬 Allegations of Unlawful Chemical Usage During Georgian Protests
The heated protests in late 2024, led by the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA), have led to some shocking and unsettling accusations against the Georgian Dream government.
According to GYLA, the government used potent combinations of tear gas and chemical-laced water cannons against peaceful demonstrators—reportedly causing severe damage to protesters' health that lasted for months afterwards. Some victims were subjected to medical treatment for far longer than during earlier demonstrations, showcasing the potentially strong effects of these substances.
However, neither the Ministries of Internal Affairs nor Health have provided information about the chemicals utilized during the protests. "We didn't receive a single response," regrettably shared by GYLA, who also pointed out that the Health Ministry opted against requesting information from the police department.
Such techniques, according to GYLA, risk the health and well-being of civilians and breach high standards of legality in dealing with protests worldwide. Moreover, no one has been held responsible for the use of these chemical agents, a situation that GYLA portrays as nothing short of systematic and criminal.
🧪 Chemical Agents, Protests, and GYLA
The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, a local human rights organization, has drawn attention to the alleged use of chemical agents during the 2024 protests. Here are the key details:
- Use of Chemical Agents: The GYLA accuses the government of employing chemical agents in tandem with gas and water cannons, escalating the harm to protesters. Firsthand accounts reveal the harsher effects of these mixed substances compared to previous incidences[1][2].
- Lack of Transparency: Criticism has been leveled at the Interior Ministry for not disclosing the makeup of these chemical agents, despite repeated requests from the GYLA. Similarly, the Ministry of Health has faced criticism for not pursuing this information, which GYLA believes is vital for medical attention[1][4].
- Legal and Human Rights Concerns: The GYLA strongly condemns the use of these chemical agents as unlawful and hazardous, asserting that it is a violation of international norms for policing protests. Furthermore, there have been no investigations into these actions, intensifying apprehensions about accountability and good governance[1][3].
- Context of Protests: These protests erupted after the Georgian Dream government declared a suspension of the country's EU integration efforts until 2028. These protests were characterized by intense clashes, including the frequent misuse of tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets by police[1].
- The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA) has accused the Georgian Dream government of employing harmful combinations of tear gas and chemical-laced water cannons during the 2024 protests, claiming that these substances caused severe, long-lasting health problems among peaceful demonstrators.
- Neither the Ministries of Internal Affairs nor Health have publicly disclosed the types of chemicals used during these demonstrations, despite repeated requests from GYLA.
- GYLA asserts that the use of these chemical agents risks the health and well-being of civilians, potentially breaching legal standards for handling protests globally.
- The GYLA's concerns also revolve around the lack of accountability, as no one has been held responsible for the use of these chemical agents during the protests.
- The association considers this situation as a potential sign of a systemic and criminal approach by the authorities.
- This issue, along with the allegations of unlawful chemical usage, has gained attention not only in general-news outlets but also in specific sectors such as health-and-wellness, mental-health, therapies-and-treatments, crime-and-justice, and science.
