MEP Gahler says Georgian president told him she was illegally eavesdropped

MEP Michael Gahler, the head of the PACE election observation mission to the Georgian October 2 municipal elections, has told Voice of America that Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili told the mission that she was a victim of illegal surveillance. 

 

Gahler, who represents the European People’s Party which is partnered with the Georgian United National Movement opposition, says that in the case of reports of illegal surveillance, responsible state officials would have resigned in a democratic country. 

 

Georgian media outlets received a link to thousands of files allegedly leaked from Georgia’s State Security Service on September 13, 2021, containing alleged personal data on clerics, politicians and diplomats. 

 

Ruling party MP Sozar Subari says that ‘it is very unlikely’ Zurabishvili to have been illegally eavesdropped. 

 

“Investigation is still in progress into the case and if illegal surveillance really took place, offenders will be held accountable,” Subari said. 

 

Fellow ruling party MPs, who had accused the UNM of the release of the ‘fabricated data,’ also said that until investigation is not over, making comments or statements on the issue is not relevant. 

 

The UNM, however, says that the Georgian Dream is engaged with illegal surveillance to ‘suppress and blackmail’ people. 

 

PACE election mission met with Zurabishvili on September 30.