Metropolitan Nikoloz on leaked data: intelligence agency should have access to all types of information

Metropolitan Nikoloz (Pachuashvili) has responded to the data allegedly leaked from the country’s State Security Service which says that he took 30,000 USD from a Russian citizen for information on Tbilisi-based, US-built Lugar lab which has been demonised by Moscow numerous occasions. 

 

Pachuashvili has told TV Pirveli, the channel which aired the ‘leaked data,’  that the country’s State Security Service should have access to all types of data. ‘However, the data must be well-saved and must not be available for others.’ 

 

“I believe in the country’s State Security Service even when they act in a non-professional manner,” Pachuashvili said. 

 

The cleric has confirmed the existence of the Russian-citizen who ‘ has frequently visited him either since  2007 or 2008.’ 

 

“He was a very interesting person and I also arranged his meeting with Saakashvili (Georgia’s former President Mikheil Saakashvili),” said the cleric. 

 

He stated that the step aimed to help normalisation of relations with Russia. 

 

TV Pirveli reported earlier today that it is studying ‘thousands of files’ leaked from the country’s State Security Service. 

 

The Georgian Public Defender has expressed her suspicion that like under the previous United National Movement government, illegal surveillance still happens under the Georgian Dream leadership ‘to prosecute and suppress individuals.’