The State Security Service of Georgia (SSG) has reported the detention of another individual on espionage charges. According to Lasha Magradze, Deputy Head of the SSG, the detained person is a Georgian citizen accused of collecting and transmitting information on the instructions of a foreign intelligence service.
“The investigation has established that the Georgian citizen, acting against the interests of his country, systematically obtained and transmitted intelligence information to a foreign special service in accordance with its interests, using personal contacts in journalistic, expert, and other professional circles.
The detainee maintained regular contact with a representative of the foreign intelligence service, organized with a high level of operational security. Meetings were planned using encrypted two-way communication and took place in various locations under strict adherence to pre-agreed secrecy measures. Information was transmitted both during face-to-face meetings and via electronic means of communication using various encryption methods.
The transmitted information of various categories included data of interest to intelligence services regarding current political and economic processes in Georgia and the region, including neighboring countries, as well as the situation within law enforcement agencies and security structures.
Of particular importance and note is that the detainee, under the cover of an online platform and in accordance with instructions from the foreign intelligence service, managed an intelligence network consisting of various individuals, coordinated its activities, and ensured the collection and transmission of the obtained information. Furthermore, he distributed funds received from the intelligence services among the network members, assigned them tasks, and monitored their execution.
Additionally, on the instructions and with the funding of a representative of the foreign intelligence service, the detainee periodically traveled to other countries, where he used existing contacts to obtain intelligence information in the interests of the foreign special service.
The investigation is being conducted under Part 1 of Article 314 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carries a penalty of imprisonment for a term of 8 to 12 years,” the SSG stated.