MEP Kaljurand on leaked files in Georgia: no place for illegal surveillance in a democratic state

MEP Marina Kaljurand has commented on the issue of recently leaked personal data files allegedly from Georgia’s State Security Service (SSS), saying that illegal surveillance is not characteristic for a democratic state. 

Kaljurand has told FormulaTV that she was unaware whether the files were authentic, but said that the issue should be investigated. 

Georgian media outlets received up to 30,000 personal data files on clerics and politicians on monday. 

An unidentified sender named Hakim Pasha claimed that the data had been illegally recorded by SSS under the Georgian Dream government. 

The ruling party accused the opposition of ‘staging provocations,’ while the opposition says that the government is illegally listening to individuals to blackmail them afterwards. 

The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the case.