Leaked files: investigation underway, journalists being questioned

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). 

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.

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. 

The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the release of alleged files on clerics and politicians leaked from Georgia’s State Security Service (SSS). The Prosecutor’s Office has urged everyone, including media outlets, which have the files to cooperate with investigators.

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 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. 

Georgian Ambassador to the EU Vakhtang Makharoblishvili has been summoned to the EU head office in Brussels over the issue of recently ‘leaked files’ allegedly from Georgia’s State Security Service (SSS), EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell stated earlier today. 

The Georgian Foreign Ministry has stated that Georgia is committed to the principles of the Venice Convention, in response to EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell’s statement over the alleged illegal surveillance of diplomats. "Georgia is committed to all international obligations, which provide for the full and smooth functioning of the diplomatic corps in the country and adheres to the principles of the Venice Convention,” the ministry’s statement reads. 

MEP Marina Kaljurand has stated that Georgian political parties should accept the results of the upcoming municipal elections if the OSCE/ODIHR recognises the legitimacy of the race. In an interview with the Georgian bureau of Voice of America (VOA), Kaljurand also said that the European Parliament expects ‘free, fair and open elections’ to be held in Georgia on October 2.  

Eleven days are left until the October 2 municipal elections in Georgia when voters will elect 64 mayors and 2,068 members in 64 city councils. The lead up to the elections has been marked by the ruling party’s withdrawal from the April 19 EU-mediated agreement, an attack on journalists by right-wing activists in July during Tbilisi Pride events, the recent leak of alleged personal files and continued vows of Georgia’s ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili that he will return.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili says the investigation into the files allegedly leaked from the State Security Service (SSS) is moving forward really fast. Calling the files fabricated, Garibashvili claims they were targeted against the state, the SSS itself, and the church. "We are very well aware whom this dirty signature is connected with. This is [Mikheil] Saakashvili and his new allies. The investigation will tell the rest”, he told Imedi TV.

Foreign diplomats and ambassadors in Georgia have raised ‘grave concerns’ over the alleged leaked files on clerics, politicians, journalists and foreign diplomats after the meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani earlier today. "Reported recent wiretapping by security authorities constitutes a serious breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and compromises normal diplomatic work in Georgia,” the statement of the diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia reads. 

Georgian top clerics have discussed the issue of files allegedly leaked from the country’s State Security Service (SSS) last month which pointed at alleged crimes committed by clerics. 

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).