According to Ben Anor’s lawyer, Zura Todua, journalist Eliso Kiladze’s detention was likely based on the secret recordings they submitted to the Prosecutor's Office.

As the lawyer explained to InterPressNews, he submitted the secret recording to the Prosecutor's Office on January 13.

According to him, yesterday, on February 17, the Samkharau Forensic Expertise Bureau confirmed the authenticity of the recordings, and the Prosecutor's Office was forced to react.

“On January 13, I filed a complaint and provided evidence to the Prosecutor's Office - the secret recording. After that, Ms. Eliso disseminated information that it was fake, falsified, and so on. We appointed an expertise at the Samkharau National Bureau of Expertise. Yesterday I received the response on this. Before that, I had filed 4 complaints with the General Prosecutor's Office demanding action, but they did nothing throughout this period. Yesterday, Samkharau handed me the expertise conclusion, I immediately submitted it to the General Prosecutor's Office and demanded action. Most likely, Eliso Kiladze’s detention is related to this. Since the authenticity of this recording was no longer in doubt, presumably after this they made this decision.

As for my request and what information the secret recording contains - it clearly concerns two things. One is how they took away the property of an Israeli citizen and investor Ben Anor. The case concerns the building at Fanjikidze Street N1, for which 3 people have already been held accountable, but Eliso Kiladze also participated in this crime and has not been held accountable for it. The second part concerns alleged connections with ‘call centers.’ It is clearly evident that someone from their group got angry and moved to Ukraine. Eliso Kiladze promises someone that she will ‘turn everything upside down’ in Ukraine because she has access to the government and the streets as well. So, I requested the Prosecutor's Office to start investigating this back then, and they did nothing throughout this period. Most likely, after the Samkharau expertise conclusion was issued, they were forced to react,” - stated Zura Todua.

As for the charges brought against Ben Anor and his cooperation with the investigation, as the lawyer notes, Ben Anor gave testimony regarding the program “Leads 8” he created.

Specifically, the human rights defender notes that “Leads 8” is a program similar to “Excel,” which Ben Anor sells to physical or legal entities.

“With my deep conviction, the charges against Ben Anor are the result of actions by those cadres who are abundantly present in the General Prosecutor's Office. These cadres are Liluashvili and Partskhaladze. As for cooperation and giving testimony, Ben Anor was indeed questioned as a witness and gave testimony about who owns the program ‘Leads 8.’ This is a legal program whose author is Mr. Ben himself. He sells it to several companies and individuals. Anyone can buy it, and apparently some users turned out to be ‘call centers.’ He does not deny that the program is his and that he sold it to several companies and individuals. It is approximately similar to ‘Excel,’ which can be used by a prosecutor, a judge, a prime minister, a president, a physical or legal person. It is similar to ‘Excel,’ nothing more. Apparently, this is being considered as cooperation with ‘call centers.’ In this part, he has given an explanation that ‘Leads 8’ is indeed his and has been sold to several companies and individuals,” - stated the lawyer.

For information: According to the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia, they have uncovered yet another large-scale call center crime and have initiated criminal prosecution against ten individuals for fraud and money laundering committed by an organized group.

According to the agency, charges will be brought in absentia against former Prosecutor General of Georgia Otar Partskhaladze, who is in hiding, and members of his criminal group - Davit Mikadze, Irakli Sekhniashvili, and Mikheil Chokheli. The charging document will be personally served to Giorgi Mikadze, who is currently serving a sentence in a penitentiary institution for another criminal case. In the same criminal case, member of the organized criminal group Eliso Kiladze has been detained. The charging document will also be presented to other members of the group - Givi Jibladze, Ben Anor, Tornike Janelidze, and Giorgi Kamladze - who actively cooperated with the investigation, not only admitted the crimes committed but also substantially assisted in uncovering transnational crime.

According to the General Prosecutor's Office, charges have been brought against Otar Partskhaladze, Giorgi Mikadze, Davit Mikadze, Irakli Sekhniashvili, Mikheil Chokheli, Eliso Kiladze, Givi Jibladze, Ben Anor, Tornike Janelidze, and Giorgi Kamladze under Articles 180 and 194 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provide for imprisonment from 9 to 12 years as a form and measure of punishment.

As noted in the Prosecutor's Office, they will apply to the court within the time limit established by law for the imposition of pretrial detention on Eliso Kiladze, Giorgi Mikadze, and the accused in hiding - Otar Partskhaladze, Davit Mikadze, Irakli Sekhniashvili, and Mikheil Chokheli, and for the imposition of bail on Givi Jibladze, Ben Anor, Tornike Janelidze, and Giorgi Kamladze, taking into account the degree of their cooperation with the investigation. According to the Prosecutor's Office statement, Ben Anor “actively cooperated with the investigation and not only admitted the crimes committed but also substantially assisted in uncovering transnational crime.”