Ruling party denies MEP accusations that Georgian President Zurabishvili has been under surveillance
MEP Gahler stated that the Georgian government should be focusing on investigating who issued the order for surveillance ‘which is illegal under Georgian law.’ Photo: 1tv.ge.
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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 allegedly leaked files which surfaced on September 13 contain data of foreign diplomats in Georgia, politicians and journalists as well as the personal data of top clerics, which point at alleged crimes such as spying for Russia, taking bribes and sexual relations with minors.
In an interview with the Georgian Bureau of Voice of America (VOA) MEP Gahler noted that EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell and German Ambassador to Georgia Hubert Knirsch are under surveillance as well, calling it ‘very disturbing.’
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili 's meeting with the European Union Delegation ahead of October 2 municipal elections. Photo: President's press office.
However, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party denies such a fact, stating that ‘there can be no legitimate basis for it.’
MEP Gahler stated that the Georgian government should be focusing on investigating who issued the order for surveillance ‘which is illegal under Georgian law.’
He also noted that in a functioning democracy after dissemination of information on illegal surveillance ‘a person in charge would have resigned.’
Ruling party MP Sozar Subari denied the possibility of President Zurabishvili’s illegal surveillance and stated that ‘when we do not know what really happened, no one can resign.’
The investigation is going fast. Dozens of people are questioned every day,” said Subari.
The security service has the right to conduct legitimate eavesdropping and some in these files may be legitimate and some fictitious,” he added.
Ruling party MP Mikheil Sarjveladze also stated that he does not support the resignation of the minister beforehand ‘until the investigation is carried out.’
Foreign diplomats and ambassadors in Georgia raised ‘grave concerns’ over the alleged leaked files earlier this month.
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into the case on September 14 day after the files were surfaced.
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 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.
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.
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 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.’