Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria said Tbilisi City Court’s warrant on seizing TV Pirveli’s device with the recordings of private conversations is unsubstantiated and contradicts the Georgian legislation and European Human Rights Law.

Lomjaria stressed that TV Pirveli reporter obtained the secret recordings via a confidential source.

“The court decision on the conduct of the measure of seizure at TV Pirveli is unsubstantiated and contradicts Georgian legislation and European human rights law.

The Tbilisi City Court authorized an investigative body to conduct the measure of seizure at TV Pirveli in order for the investigation to obtain a device containing electronic information and an envelope or other packaging containing the device,” the Public Defenders statement reads.

Georgian Public Defender calls on the Prosecutor General’s Office (POG) to refrain from taking such a step that could undermine freedom of expression and journalistic activities.

“The right of a journalist not to disclose a source and not to pass information obtained as a result of his/her professional activity to the investigation is, first of all, protected by domestic law. Search and seizure in mass media is allowed only when there is a clear and convincing substantiation that the conduct of the said investigative activity will not lead to the violation of the right to speech,  enshrined in the Constitution of Georgia,” the statement reads.

Earlier today, the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has launched an investigation into the unauthorized recording of a private conversation and/or wiretapping, as well as the recording of private communication, illegal use, and dissemination of information obtained through technical means.

On the same day, based on the POG’s motion, Tbilisi City Court issued a warrant on seizing the device from TV Pirveli, which had the recordings of private conversations used in the show “Nodar Meladzis Shabati” on March 6.

POG vows that the investigation aims to ensure rapid obtaining/reception of the secret recordings so that the relevant examinations for establishing their authenticity can be duly ordered and all the required investigative and procedural actions can be conducted.

The secret recordings contain a conversation between Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, the son of the Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, Bera Ivanishvili, and the Head of the Special State Protection Service Anzor Chubinidze.