The State Security Service has arrested one person on charges of espionage.

Deputy Head of the State Security Service, Lasha Maghradze, held a briefing on the matter.

According to him, the detainee had ties with the special services of two foreign countries.

According to Maghradze, the accused is the founder and head of a non-governmental organization.

“The employees of the Counterintelligence Department of the State Security Service have detained a Georgian citizen on charges of espionage, who had ties with the special services of two foreign countries.

The investigation established that the founder and head of one of the non-governmental organizations had systematically obtained and transmitted intelligence information to the special services of foreign countries for years, in order to receive material benefits and pursue the interests of a foreign country.

The detainee had highly organized, conspiratorial, systematic contacts with representatives of the special services of foreign countries. The information was provided both through face-to-face meetings and using electronic means. In addition, periodically, meetings were held outside the country in order to protect the conspiracy and conduct briefings.

The person accused of espionage, on the instructions and with the funding of the special services of foreign countries, in order to conduct his activities, had created information platforms and organized various events throughout the country.

It is noteworthy that the accused simultaneously cooperated with the special services of two foreign states and carried out parallel intelligence activities.

The investigation into the case is underway under Article 314, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for a sentence of 8 to 12 years of imprisonment,” Lasha Maghradze said.