Georgian Opposition parties have issued a joint statement regarding the TV Pirveli case.

The opposition believes “TV Pirveli’s source exposed a serious crime that unveiled the nature of the Ivanishvili regime, the violence committed by the high-ranking officials.”

“Ivanishvili’s regime’s decision to attack the independent and government-critical media, to storm the television, and demand to disclose the whistleblower, is a dangerous sign of authoritarianism that Georgian society and democratic opposition parties will not tolerate.

This illegal decision of Ivanishvili’s puppet court grossly violates both the Law of Georgia on Freedom of Expression and the Criminal Procedure Code 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 recording contains 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.