Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s office launches investigation into alleged ‘leaked SSS files’

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has responded to the release of alleged files on clerics and politicians leaked from Georgia’s State Security Service (SSS), stating that it is a ‘dirty provocation of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party against state institutions.’He said that the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) is ‘well-aware’ of the UNM goal to ‘undermine state institutions and damage the country’s image.’ 

Georgian media outlets have received files allegedly leaked from the country’s State Security Service (SSS), which contain personal data on clerics. The media outlets received a link to the files earlier today from ‘Hakim Pasha,’ titled 'Georgian State Security Sevice’s compromising materials against Patriarchate.’ 

The Georgian State Security Service has launched an investigation into the disclosure of state secrets under the classification of ‘secret,’ the body reported earlier today. The official statement of the State Security Service reads that the facts of public information dissemination about the official duties of the body’s staff and officials have become more frequent recently, noting that it ‘clearly violates the law on State Secrets.’ 

With 93 votes for and 21 against the Georgian Parliament has adopted the final draft of a law on surveillance overturning President Giorgi Margvelashvili’s veto.

The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party says that the United National Movement (UNM) opposition  party has plans to release secret recordings of the private life of public figures ‘or their fabrication’ from abroad in the coming days to spark tension ahead of the October 2 municipal elections. 

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has called the recent leakage of files against clerics and politicians 'a direct conspiracy' aimed to cause misunderstanding between the church and the state. "There is a very strong and solid unity between the government and the church and this will be always be so”, PM Garibashvili said earlier today.

Lelo - Partnership for Georgia opposition parliamentary faction and ex-PM Giorgi Gakharia’s For Georgia party have demanded the creation of a parliamentary investigation commission on the personal data files allegedly ‘leaked’ from the country’s State Security Service (SSS). 

The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party says that the United National Movement (UNM) opposition ‘is very much concerned by the extremely calm pre-election environment’ in Georgia and has plans to stage ‘serious provocations’ ahead of the October 2 municipal elections. 

Police are looking into the authenticity of allegedly leaked files on clerics and politicians from the ​​State Security Service (SSS) which surfaced on September 13. Georgian media outlets received thousands of files titled 'Georgian State Security Sevice’s compromising materials against Patriarchate’ online from an unidentified sender which contain data of possible illegal surveillance by the state body.

The Georgian Patriarchate says it is waiting for the Georgian government to explain alleged leaked files on clerics from the ​​State Security Service (SSS) which surfaced on September 13. Secretary of Georgian Patriarch Ilia II and Archpriest Mikael Botkoveli stated that the Patriarchate of Georgia will make an official statement regarding the issue in about two days, noting that a meeting of a Holy Synod has not been scheduled yet.

Allegedly leaked files on clerics and politicians from the ​​State Security Service (SSS) are highly unlikely to be falsified and indicate systematic illegal surveillance, the country’s well-respected, non-governmental Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) reports. Thousands of files containing the personal data of clerics and politicians obtained via alleged illegal surveillance were published on the internet several days ago and sent to various media outlets. 

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated that the release of alleged leaked files on clerics from Georgia’s State Security Service (SSS) is a conspiracy against the state and the church. Garibashvili said that the country’s opposition ‘launched a dirty campaign’ against the Patriarchate and church a year ago, noting that ‘their main goal is to discredit the church, the army, the police in order to demoralise them.’  

Leader of the opposition Lelo for Georgia party Mamuka Khazaradze has stated that the leaked files on clerics from the ​​State Security Service (SSS) which surfaced on September 13 contain documents of his communication with seven bishops, monastery leaders and abbots. Khazaradze was questioned by the Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office earlier today after which he stated that the law enforcers showed him the materials for the last three years revealing the illegal surveillance, noting that a total of 40 episodes were introduced to him. 

Member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs Michael Gahler has stated that Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili reported to foreign diplomats that she is under surveillance following the dissemination of alleged ‘leaked files.’ Various Georgian media outlets received links to thousands of files titled ‘Georgian State Security Sevice’s compromising materials against Patriarchate’ from an unidentified sender which contained data obtained via possible illegal surveillance by the country’s State Security Service (SSS).

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia will aim to improve the overall quality of prosecutorial activities, develop a victim-oriented criminal policy, and increase the flexibility and efficiency of the institute of plea bargaining, among other objectives revealed by Prosecutor General Irakli Shotadze on Friday.