The Georgian State Security Service (GSSS) has opened an investigation into a "conspiracy to overthrow the government", civil.ge reported citing a GSSS statement on October 24. 

According to the statement, the investigation was launched "based on operative-investigative carried out by the counter-intelligence department and information reported in the media outlets". The information in question refers to an alleged transcript of a conversation between the former Georgian president and current governor of Odesa Region in Ukraine, Mikheil Saakashvili, and Giga Bokeria, one of the leaders of the opposition party United National Movement (UNM).

According to the transcript, which civil.ge deems as unreliable because of the source website's marked anti-Saakashvili stance, the two dignitaries spoke in Istanbul on October 22 about plotting an attack against Rustavi 2 TV staff in order to cause mass protests against the government. The transcript was published on an Ukrainian website that calls itself "Ukrainian Wikileaks" and that publishes anti-Saakashvili material frequently.

One hour after the GSSS announcement, the Interior Ministry announced that it would install surveillance cameras around the embattled Rustavi 2 TV station, which is currently in the midst of an ownership battle; and that it will assign police patrols in the area round-the-clock.

On October 24, GSSS summoned Bokeria for interrogations at their headquarters. Upon leaving, the UNM leader told journalists that "it is a real pity that employees of our counter-intelligence had to waste time on such foolish, absurd issues".