EUROPEAN BRIEF OCPAS-EUR 89-096 FOR 26 APRIL 1989.

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005424737
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: June 28, 2010
• Case Number: F-2009-00834
• Publication Date: April 26, 1989

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SUBJECT: EUROFEAN BRIEF OCPAS-EUR 89-096 FOR 26 APRIL 1989.
FROM: DDI/0/CPAS.
CONTENTS
APPROVED FOR RELEASED
DATE: 29-Mar-2010
CEGRE
 S E 6 HE I-
 2. USSR: RIOT CONTROL AGENTS USED IN TBILISI
THE CHARACTERISTICS AND SYMPTOMS OF SOVIET GEORGIAN VICTIMS
SUGGEST THAT TROOPS USED TEAR GAS GENT SEEKING TO
QUELL NATIONALIST DEMONSTRATIONS.
THE RECENTLY APPOINTED PARTY CHIEF IN SOVIET GEORGIA SAID
MONDAY THAT SOME OF THE 20 DEATHS IN AN ATTACK ON DEMONSTRATORS ON 9
APRIL WERE CAUSED BY POISON GAS, ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS. HE
NOTED THAT TWO DIFFERENT GASES HAD BEEN USED AND ADDED THAT MEDICAL
SPECIALIST LP THOSE SUFFERING FROM THE
POISONING.
BOTH THE VICTIMS AND MEMBERS OF AN OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED
COMMISSION INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT REPORT SYMPTOMS THAT INCLUDE
SHARP HEADACHES, VOMITING, SKIN RASHES, MEMORY LOSS, AND IRREGULAR
NERVE PARALYSIS, ACCORDING TO RECENT PRESS REPORTS. A SOVIET DEFENSE
MINISTRY NEWSPAPER REPORTED THE USE OF THE TEAR GAS
CHLOROACETOPHENONE (C G), UuME_MLL_ S NOT DISCLOSED THE
.NATURE OF THE SECOND GAS.
COMMENT: THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED INDICATE THAT A VOMITING AGENT,
PROBABLY DIPHENYLCHLOROARSINE (DA) , WAS USED, AS WELL AS A TEAR GAS.
BOTH SUBSTANCES ARE DEFINED AS RIOT CONTROL AGENTS, FREQUENTLY,
VOMITING AGENTS AND TEAR GASES ARE MIXED AND LOADED IN A BURNING
MUNITION. A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF VOMITING AGENTS CAUSES LUNG
DAMAGE, SEVERE COLD-LIKE SYMPTOMS, AND INTENSE HEADACHE ACCOMPANIED
BY CHEST PAIN, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, AND PROLONGED VOMITING. VICTIMS
OF DA MAY HAVE AN UNSTEADY GAIT, VERTIGO, MUSCLE WEAKNESS, AND
111111 111 IT KE SEVERAL WEEKS TO RECOVER FROM SEVERE DOSES.
ALTHOUGH RIOT CONTROL AGENTS ARE REGARDED AS NONLETHAL, IN HIGH
CONCENTRATIONS OR WITH PROLONGED EXPOSURE, BOTH TEAR GAS AND
VOMITING AGENTS CAN KILL. PRESS REPORTS SAY THE CROWD IN TBILISI WAS
TRAPPED AND UNABLE TO DISPEn A FACT THAT MAY ACCOUNT FOR THE
DEATHS.
THE REPORT IN THE SOVIET DEFENSE MINISTRY NEWSPAPER IS THE
FIRST PUBLIC ADMISSION TO POSSESSION OF CN. THE SOVIETS PREVIOUSLY
HAVE ADMITTED ONLY TO HAVING ONE TYPE OF RIOT CONTROL AGENT
CHLOROBENZAL MALONONITR I LE --CS-- IN THEIR Mil ITARY L. THEY HAVE
YET TO MENTION VOMITING AGENTS.
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