Medical professionals in Georgia demand a halt to the use of chemical agents on protesters
In Georgia, doctors are circulating a petition demanding an end to the use of chemical agents during the dispersal of protests.
They are also urging the government to disclose the specific substances that have been used against protesters so far.
To date, the petition has been signed by more than a thousand medical professionals.
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Doctors report that an increasing number of people are seeking medical care daily due to exposure to toxic substances used by law enforcement to disperse peaceful protests.
Even after acute poisoning symptoms are treated, there remains a risk of long-term health consequences.
They believe the Ministry of Health should consistently and openly warn law enforcement against using such substances:
“The severity of harm caused by these chemical agents depends on numerous endogenous and exogenous factors. Many people in the country have chronic illnesses, and there has been a sharp rise in cancer cases, including among young people.”
“The prolonged and widespread use of chemical agents, which could further worsen the existing health challenges in our country, deeply concerns us. Therefore, we believe the Ministry of Health must inform the public, and especially medical professionals, about the specific chemical substances used by law enforcement.
This information will enable us to provide targeted treatment to those affected by these substances,” the doctors’ petition states.
Artists from around the world have expressed solidarity with Georgia
More than 500 cultural figures from around the world are issuing a statement of solidarity with Georgia and the Georgian people in response to the police’s brutal crackdown on peaceful protests in Tbilisi.
Among the signatories are film directors, musicians, writers, scientists, actors, and other cultural figures from various countries. They are calling on creative individuals worldwide to join the statement and support the Georgian people in their struggle.
“We, artists, curators, and cultural figures from around the world, stand in solidarity with the Georgian people and the artists fighting against Russian imperialist policies.
The resistance of the Georgian people against Russian imperialism has not received sufficient recognition. This statement seeks to draw attention to the ongoing oppression of the Georgian people and their fight against totalitarian regimes.
Currently, in Georgia, artists, activists, and cultural figures are at the forefront of the struggle against a repressive and brutal regime.
In recent years, they have become targets of political repression. They have been excluded from key cultural spaces such as museums, film centers, writers’ houses, and academic institutions. Now, they stand side by side with other protesters, facing police violence, arrests, and brutal beatings.
The new law “against LGBT propaganda” has effectively reinstated censorship, criminalizing the queer community, queer art, and queer culture in Georgia.
We are moved by the courage and resilience of the Georgian people in their fight against autocracy and totalitarian violence. Their resistance and determination inspire us, and we stand with them in their struggle for freedom and justice,” the statement reads.
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