Mobile phones and laptops seized from Georgian activists during searches

During searches conducted at homes of Georgian activists and supporters of charity funds, who helped in paying fines imposed on protesters, their phones and laptops were taken away.

Searches at homes of civil activists and NGO leaders in Tbilisi are conducted as part of the investigation into a case of sabotage against the Georgian statehood with the support of foreign organizations, the Georgian General Prosecutor’s Office (GPO) has confirmed.

According to the version of the GPO, Nanuka Zhorzholiani, a TV presenter; Mariam Bazhelidze, an activist; Alexander Tskitishvili, the head of the NGO "Human Rights Centre"; Lasha Arveladze, a lawyer; and Guga Khelaya, the founder of the "Friend for Friends" Fund, were involved in the organizations that "took part in financing the persons accused of committing grave crimes against the public order, as well as their families, and of paying the administrative fines imposed on violators of the law."

Mariam Badzhelidze has reported that her mobile phone was taken away from her. "They came in the morning, kicking in the door. I was with my child. When asked who they were, they replied that it was a neighbour. There were four men there; I saw that they had their shoulder TV cameras on. They told me that they were from the GPO and had the right to search my home. They came in and seized my mobile phone, stating that I had no right to film the process," the “Interpressnews” quotes Ms Badzhelidze as saying. When they took away the phone, they explained that they had arrived in connection with an inquiry launched under the sabotage article, and also mentioned the Overseas Funding Act, she has added.

Mariam Geguchadze, Nanuka Zhorzholiani’s daughter, has reported that law enforcers also came to conduct a search of the apartment registered to her name. She was not allowed in, and her uncle, Nanuka Zhorzholiani’s brother was in the apartment; they took away his phone too, the “Pirveli” TV Company has reported.

Guga Khelaya has reported that law enforcers had also took away his mobile phone. "They visited my apartment in the morning and said they were from the GPO – four of them came in. At that moment I had my phone in hand; they took it away and sealed it up. After a complete search of the apartment, at which I was present, they found nothing illegal and left. As I was told by the house security staff, there were about 30 policemen standing in the entrance. With a high probability I will be summoned for questioning," the “Tbilisi Life” outlet quotes Mr Khelaya as saying.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 28, 2025 at 12:58 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

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