To the knowledge of public, State Security Department of the State Security Service is carrying out investigation into the fact of sabotage.

On June 20, 2020, a story set up on the ground of deliberately altered facts was aired by TV outlet “Mtavari Arkhi” in a program “Shabatis Mtavari”, which informed public, as if in Marneuli Municipality, during the pandemic, government officials offered the family members of persons deceased due to various diseases certain sum of money, in exchange for naming Novel Corona Virus as a cause of death.

Within the process of investigation, every person and respondent involved in the story broadcasted in program “Shabatis Mtavari” by TV “Mtavari Arkhi” had been interviewed, as a result of which it has been confirmed that Azerbaijani-language interviews of the respondents had been deliberately wrenched by the authors of the TV story.

On July 2, 2020, on the basis of judge’s ruling, investigation demanded from TV “Mtavari Arkhi” uncut footage of the TV story - “Purchased COVID 19” - broadcasted in a program “Shabatis Mtavari”, within the period of 21:03-21:13 on June 20, 2020, as well as this of the TV story broadcasted on June 25, 2020 within the period of 21:03 – 21:13. Regardless of the fact that Director General of the TV “Mtavari Arkhi” Nika Gvaramia publicly stated that he was ready to give publicity to uncut material connected to the mentioned TV programs, the TV outlet submitted to the investigation only material completed and translated into Georgian language which had been broadcasted previously. Phonoscopic examination into the completed video material submitted by TV “Mtavari Arkhi” has been scheduled in order to establish objective truth on the fact.

An intensive investigation is being carried out at the State Security Department of the State Security Service. Further legal measure will be defined based on analysis carried out on the ground of collected evidence.