4 detained for possession, distribution of private footage released on bail

Four individuals detained back in February 2019 for the possession and distribution of the personal footage of MP Eka Beselia, have been released on bail after the request of the Prosecutor’s Office to the court.

The prosecution requested the bail after uncovering new evidence, which was followed by the suspension of the pre-trial detention of Zaal Lataria, Zurab Solomnishvili, Temur Iremadze and Anton Glonti.

The individuals have been released on 5,000 GEL [$1,900] bail.

The footage was released again on Tuesday and a minor was detained, Deputy Interior Minister Natia Mezvrishvili said, claiming that the offence had no client.

Beselia has demanded the uncovering of the masterminds behind the release in a month’s time.

Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze stated earlier today that police reacted immediately to address the offence.

He said that cybercrimes are a challenge for many developed countries and it is complicated to track such offences and detain those that organize the release of such footage

Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia says that foreign specialists might be invited to help Georgian law enforcers investigate the crime.

Eighteen individuals were detained for the possession and distribution of the private footage of Beselia in February 2019.

Four out of 18 detained were sent to pre-trial detention, while 14 have been released on bail. Now all the individuals are released on bail.

Recording, storing and distributing footage related to an individual's personal and intimate life is a crime which is punishable by imprisonment from four to eight years.