According to the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, an investigation conducted by the Counterintelligence Department of the State Security Service of Georgia in two separate cases found that two Georgian citizens had been systematically collecting and providing various types of information to foreign intelligence services in exchange for financial compensation, allegedly acting against Georgia’s national interests.

The Prosecutor’s Office said that one of the defendants also transferred part of the money received to other individuals involved in obtaining intelligence information.

The suspects have been charged with espionage under Article 314, Part 1 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which carries a penalty of up to 12 years in prison.

The Prosecutor’s Office stated that it will apply to the court within the legally prescribed timeframe seeking pretrial detention as a preventive measure for the defendants.