TBILISI, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday sharply criticized the BBC for publishing what he described as fabricated allegations aimed at harming Georgia's national interests.
He made the remarks following a BBC report on Monday claiming that "a World War One-era chemical weapon" may have been used against protesters in Tbilisi last year.
According to Kobakhidze, the BBC relied on unverified claims and ignored the government's detailed response. "The BBC was deliberately provided with false information that was directly aimed at undermining our national interests, and this can legitimately be regarded as a crime," he told the press.
The prime minister dismissed the report's reference to the substance in question, noting that the Ministry of Internal Affairs will release detailed information for clarification.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has announced plans to take legal action against the BBC in international courts, while the State Security Service has opened an investigation into the broadcaster's reporting. ■