Georgia, Tbilisi, Jan. 15 / Trend N. Kirtzkhalia /
The investigation department of Tbilisi prosecutor's office has brought a case against former senior officials of the Military Police Department, who are accused of abuse of power, violence, and insulting the honour and dignity of citizens, spokesperson for the Georgian Prosecutor's Office Khatuna Paichadze said at a press-conference today.
She said that the investigation revealed that according to the former head of the Military Police Department under the Georgian Defence Ministry Megis Kardava's instructions, departmental staff collected information on gays and secretly filmed scenes from their personal life on video.
Afterwards, they blackmailed and forced them to collaborate with the special services. Illegally recruited agents established sexual contacts with well-known gays. The latter knew nothing of the conspiracy. The agents took them to the special apartments with installed cameras. By this time, three such apartments were revealed. The illegally shot videos were personally brought to Kardava. Then this material was used to blackmail these victims making them publicly declare their loyalty to the existing regime and participate in various activities to promote the former authorities.
At present, the prosecutor's office has several video files, though it is known that there are actually several dozen in existence.
Paichadze said that three former officials of the military police have been arrested over the case. The General Prosecutor's Office has appealed to the court to determine a preventive measure in the form of arrest, but Judge Giorgi Arevadze released the accused individuals on bail worth 20,000 lari.
As for Megis Kardava, he has not been accused yet. A video file was delivered to the media after the press conference.