Opposition leader Khazaradze on leaked files: my communication with various clerics are recorded
The co-founder of TBC Bank Mamuka Khazaradze created the civic movement Lelo in September 2019 after the resignation from the bank's supervisory council due to criminal charges against him. Photo: Mamuka Khazaradze/Facebook.
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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.
This is a disaster, to put it bluntly, this is something startling...This is undermining one of the most fundamental values of statehood,” Khazaradze said.
He also confirmed the authenticity of the records gained by the alleged illegal surveillance of him.
I confirmed practically everything because when they (law enforcers) started reading the excerpt, I was already confirming because those moments really took place,” stated Khazaradze.
Thousands of files containing the personal data of clerics, politicians and journalists obtained via alleged illegal surveillance were published on the internet a week ago and sent to various media outlets.
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office launched the investigation into the case day after the disclosure of the files and urged the representatives of various media outlets to cooperate with law enforcers.
The opposition Lelo for Georgia along with the For Georgia party demanded the establishment of a parliamentary investigation commission on the case with the involvement of the Georgian ombudsperson and foreign experts.
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.’
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.’
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.
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).