As a result of intensive counterintelligence measures carried out by the Counterintelligence Department of the State Security Service over the past few months, one citizen of Georgia has been detained on charges of espionage - specifically, for collecting and transmitting information on the instructions of foreign intelligence service personnel. This was announced at a briefing by the First Deputy Head of the State Security Service [SSSG], Lasha Maghradze.

As he explained, evidence obtained through various methods, including covert investigative actions, establishes that a public official employed in a high-ranking position within one of the state agencies was acting against the interests of the country. Utilizing their current official position, past roles, and personal connections across various agencies, the individual systematically procured and transmitted information for the benefit of foreign intelligence services.

“The detainee maintained systematic contacts of a highly organized, conspiratorial nature with a representative of a foreign intelligence service. Meetings were planned using encrypted 2-way communication and held at various locations, with strict adherence to pre-agreed conspiracy conditions. The information was provided through both face-to-face contact and electronic means.

The information transmitted to the foreign intelligence service included various categories of classified data related to the political and economic processes ongoing in Georgia, the situation within law enforcement agencies and security structures, information regarding ethnic and religious minorities, and other data of interest to the clients requesting the information.

Furthermore, the evidence obtained establishes that, on the instructions of the foreign intelligence service representative, the detained individual was also working on creating information platforms. The purpose was to attract media representatives and use this network to obtain intelligence-natured information, including concerning the countries in the region, in accordance with the interests of the foreign intelligence service. The accused carried out these activities for the purpose of receiving material gain. The investigation into the case is ongoing under the part I of Article 314 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carries a sentence of 8 to 12 years of imprisonment”, - said Lasha Maghradze.