Prosecutor's office launches investigation into audio recordings under unauthorized recording and wiretapping article

The Georgia Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the audio recordings distributed by Pirveli TV station.  According to the prosecutor's office, the investigation has been launched under the article on unauthorized recording and/or wiretapping of private conversations, as well as illegal use and distribution of information obtained through technical means.

Based on the publicly disclosed secret recordings, the Prosecutor General's Office of Georgia has launched an investigation into unauthorized recording and / or wiretapping of a private conversation, as well as recording of a private conversation, and the illegal use and distribution of obtained information by technical means, under Article 158, paragraph 1 and 2.

All necessary investigative and procedural measures to determine the legality of receipt and distribution of the recording will be taken as part of the ongoing investigation of the case. Appropriate expertise will be scheduled to determine the authenticity of the leaked recordings.

"The public will be informed of the results of the investigation," the agency said in a statement.

For reference, TV Pirveli broadcasted audio recordings on March 6, according to which Bidzina Ivanishvili's son, Bera Ivanishvili and current Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili were planning to punish those who wrote critical comments or scolded Bera on the social network. Anzor Chubinidze, the head of the Special State Protection Service (SSPS), also figures in the recordings