According to the information disseminated by TV Pirveli Company, the State Security Service allegedly conducted illegal surveillance/wiretapping in monasteries. According to the same information, systemic threats and pressure are allegedly being exerted on a specific clergyman, which is related to the alleged plan to murder one of the bishops.

The disseminated recordings contain elements of an alleged crime – both in terms of illegal surveillance, and alleged threats, pressure and the planning of the murder of a clergyman. The aforementioned recordings should become the subject of immediate interest and response of the relevant law enforcement agencies.

The alleged practice of illegal wiretapping by the State Security Service is not new. According to a TV story aired on TV Pirveli on September 12, 2021, the State Security Service allegedly exercised total control over civil servants - employees of local self-government bodies, school and kindergarten teachers, party members, employees of the the administration of the Patriarchate, and clergy of all ranks. The Prosecutor's Office formally launched an investigation into the incident, although the public has not yet received information about the progress/outcome of the case.

It has been especially evident recently that the agency serves partisan interests, not the country's security. Georgian Dream, inter alia, is trying to strengthen authoritarianism with the resources of the Security Service. Alleged, total wiretapping/surveillance is one of the means for the above, which leads to the neglect of fundamental human rights.

Effective control over the activities of the Service was extremely weak in the past as well. Today democratic oversight over the agency has become impossible due to the current political crisis. Alleged illegal wiretapping/surveillance by the country's Security Service is especially dangerous when there is no independent institution. The bias of investigative agencies and the court has become even more palpable recently, against the backdrop of large-scale protests and repressions..