Former Deputy Head of State Security Service charged with misuse of authority, possession of state secrets, personal data

The SSS arrested Gogashvili on Sunday, with law enforcement seizing documents containing state secrets and personal data, dozens of technical equipment and the illegal firearms. Photo: pog.gov.ge.

Agenda.ge, 18 Jul 2022 - 15:59, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office has charged Soso Gogashvili, the  former Deputy Head of the State Security Service, for exceeding authority, illegally obtaining personal data of two individuals and illegal possession of firearms.

The Office said an investigation carried out by the Service showed Gogashvili had held access to  information containing “state secrets”, as well as personal data of “certain individuals”, between 2015-2018.

The statement noted Gogashvili had taken the data out of his office for “personal purposes” and kept it at home, through a misuse of his authority. Some of the personal data was later “disseminated with the participation of Gogashvili”, the body added, violating the constitutional rights of individuals and “causing significant damage”.

The Service said the case also involved a threat of disclosure of state secrets.

In other details of the case, Gogashvili was found to have illegally purchased five pieces of firearms as well as ammunition. Two of the weapons were unregistered, while the other three were registered in the name of his close relative.

The SSS arrested Gogashvili on Saturday, with law enforcement seizing documents containing state secrets and personal data, dozens of technical equipment and the illegal firearms.