The State Security Service has detained another person on charges of espionage.

A briefing was held at the State Security Service regarding the matter

According to the Deputy Head of the State Security Service, Lasha Maghradze, a Georgian citizen has been detained and is accused of collecting and transmitting information to foreign intelligence services.

“A Georgian citizen has been detained by the employees of the Counterintelligence Department of the State Security Service on charges of espionage, namely, for collecting and transmitting information to the employees of a foreign special service.

The investigation established that the Georgian citizen, contrary to the interests of his own country, systematically obtained and transmitted intelligence information to them through personal contacts in journalistic, expert and other professional circles, in accordance with the interests of foreign special services.

The detainee had highly organized, conspiratorial, systematic contacts with a representative of a foreign special service. Meetings were planned using encrypted two-way communication and were held at various locations, in strict compliance with the conditions of the conspiracy agreed in advance. The information was provided both through face-to-face contact and using electronic means, using various encryption methods.

The various categories of information transmitted included information on Georgia and the region, among them, data of interest to the special services about the current political and economic processes in neighboring countries, the situation in law enforcement agencies and security structures.

It is particularly important and noteworthy that the detainee, under the cover of an online platform, in accordance with the instructions of the foreign special service, managed an intelligence network consisting of various individuals, coordinated their activities and ensured the collection and transmission of the information received. He also distributed the funds received from the special services among the members of the intelligence network, gave them relevant instructions and controlled the implementation process.

In addition, on the instructions and with the financing of a representative of the foreign special service, the detainee periodically traveled to other countries and, through the connections there, obtained intelligence information in accordance with the interests of the foreign special service.

The investigation into the case is carried out under Part 1 of Article 314 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for a sentence of 8 to 12 years of imprisonment.

The State Security Service, in close coordination with other law enforcement agencies, will continue its active work to identify other members of foreign intelligence networks and, in general, to further strengthen our country's security system," reads the information.