Human Rights Center responds to dissemination of secret audio-records

Human Rights Center responds to dissemination of  the secret phone call records –between director general of the TV Company Rustavi 2 and one of the political leaders  on September 14 in media.

The Constitution of Georgia and acting legislation protects every person’s right to private life, confidentiality of phone conversation and other. The state is obliged to adequately and promptly respond to the violation of the fundamental rights.

Human Rights Center is concerned with the dissemination of the record. Especially because the fact not only violated right to the inviolability of private life but also manipulates with voters during the pre-election period. 

The case proved that the reform in the surveillance system was not substantial and there is a threat that any person’s basic rights will be violated. Particularly worrying is that the citizens have a perception that the threat might come from the governmental bodies, who have access to the secret surveillance system. 

It is important that on April 14, 2016, the Constitutional Court satisfied the lawsuit of the member organizations of the Campaign This Affects You and lawsuit of the Public Defender’s Office’s and recognized current system of secret ear dropping and surveillance anti-constitutional. The Constitutional Court ruled that the direct access to the phone surveillance by the State Security Service through so called two-key system is anti-constitutional. 

Human Rights Center is active member of the campaign This Affects You – We Are Still Listened and joined the statement of the Campaign – This Affects You responds to the dissemination of the secret record. The organizations express concern that the Parliament of Georgia has not yet taken actual steps to enforce the ruling of the Constitutional Court. 

Human Rights Center calls on the government and relevant institutions 

To take concrete, effective steps in order to fight against the illegal surveillance. 

To affectively investigate the fact of obtaining and dissemination of the secret audio-records in accordance to the law;

The Parliament of Georgia shall introduce prompt amendments to the legislation and to enforce the April 14 decision of the Constitutional Court. 

To define the investigation of the crimes committed by law enforcement or other state bodies as a priority of state policy ;

To create independent investigative mechanism, which will eradicate similar illegal, dignity infringing cases and will effectively investigate cases to identify perpetrators.

Human Rights Center