The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) said it arrested a Georgian citizen, whom it identified as the “founder and head of one of the non-governmental organizations,” on allegations of spying for the intelligence services of two foreign countries. The agency did not disclose the individual’s identity or the countries it alleges were involved.
In a May 30 briefing, the First Deputy Head of the SSSG, Lasha Maghradze, said the suspect “had for years systematically carried out the collection and transmission of intelligence-related information to the special services of foreign countries, for the purpose of obtaining material benefit and pursuing the interests of a foreign state.”
“The detainee had highly organized, conspiratorial, systematic contacts with representatives of foreign intelligence services,” Maghradze said, adding, “The transfer of information was carried out both through face-to-face meetings and electronic means. In addition, meetings were periodically held outside the country for the purpose of maintaining secrecy and conducting instructions.”
The suspect “had created information platforms on the instructions and with the funding of foreign intelligence services to carry out related activities, and had also organized various events across the country,” the SSSG official added, stressing that the detainee “simultaneously cooperated” with the intelligence services of two countries, carrying out what he described as “parallel intelligence activities.”
The investigation is ongoing under Article 314 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns “espionage” and is punishable by eight to twelve years’ imprisonment.
The announcement follows several similar cases in recent weeks. On April 22, the SSSG said it arrested a Georgian man later identified as a resident of occupied Akhalgori, Tamaz Goloev, who, according to pro-government media and official allusions, allegedly spied for Russian intelligence. On May 5, the SSSG announced the arrest of an official, Giorgi Udzilauri, whom the agency said spied for “one of the European countries,” without naming it. Udzilauri had previously worked for Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Cartu Group.
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