Warsaw, October 9 — A study presented on Tuesday at the OSCE Human Dimension Conference found that more than a third of protesters exposed to chemical irritants and water cannons during the 2024 Tbilisi protests reported health symptoms lasting longer than a year. The story begins with the protests that took place in Tbilisi between 28 November and 7 December 2024, after the Georgian government announced it would suspend the country’s EU accession process until 2028.
What unfolded was a series of events that would have long-lasting effects on the protesters, with 85.5% of respondents reporting at least one health-related symptom following exposure to tear gas, pepper spray, or water cannons.
Health Symptoms Persist
At its heart, the study revealed that 34% of respondents reported at least one symptom persisting for more than 12 months or still ongoing when they completed the survey in February or March 2026. For those involved, the effects of the chemical irritants were severe, with 25.6% of respondents reporting visual impairment or blurred vision that persisted beyond a year, and 52.5% of those reporting memory problems experiencing long-term effects.
A significant number of respondents also reported mood changes, with 43.7% of those experiencing mood changes having prolonged symptoms, and 39.7% of those reporting irritability having symptoms that lasted over a year. The physical symptoms were just as alarming, with 20.3% of those reporting dizziness or lightheadedness having symptoms that lasted over a year, and 33% of those reporting tinnitus having ongoing issues.
Exposure to Chemical Irritants
The study found that exposure to a greater number of types of crowd-control agents was associated with a higher number of reported symptoms. Each additional night of exposure, being directly hit by a water cannon, being exposed in circumstances where escape was difficult, and acute incapacitation were independently associated with symptoms lasting at least one month. The researchers noted that 47.9% of tear-gas exposure episodes were described as severe, meaning respondents were unable to see or breathe and forced to leave immediately.
Parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has rejected the study and called for scrutiny of the funding behind the research. However, the study’s findings highlight the need for further research into the effects of repeated and combined exposure to chemical irritants and water-cannon systems.
The researchers recommend examining clothing and other items that may retain chemical residues and call for independent clinical, forensic, and toxicological investigation.
Looking Forward
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the Georgian government will respond to the study’s findings. The focus is on the protesters who were affected by the chemical irritants and the need for further research into the long-term effects of exposure. The story of the 2024 Tbilisi protests serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting human rights and ensuring that those in power are held accountable for their actions.
