Officers of the Counter-Intelligence Department of the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) detained one more Georgian citizen on charges of providing information to a foreign intelligence agency, First Deputy Head of the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG), Lasha Maghradze announced at the briefing.

According to Maghradze, the information supplied by the detained individual comprised interesting details on the ongoing political-economic processes and situation in law enforcement and security agencies both in Georgia and the region.

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

Deputy SSSG Head further clarified that the detainee had well-organized conspiracy contacts and held secret meetings at different locations and supplied information through personal contacts or electronic devices, while the information was encoded.

“It is noteworthy that under the cover of online platforms and at the instruction of a foreign intelligence service, the detained individual managed a special network, coordinated its activities, monitored the fulfilment of tasks and allocated money obtained from the foreign intelligence service.

Also, at the instructions and with the funding of a representative of a foreign country’s special services, the detained person regularly travelled to other countries and, through existing connections there, obtained intelligence information in accordance with the interests of the foreign country’s special services,” he said.

The investigation is in progress under Part 1 of Article 314 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to imprisonment from 8 to 12 years as a punishment measure.

The SSSG Deputy Head reconfirmed that the Agency, in close coordination with other law enforcement agencies, will continue its active work to identify other members of foreign intelligence networks to further strengthen the country’s security system.