TBILISI, Georgia — A former Georgian diplomat who advised the country's mission to NATO was sentenced to 20 years in jail Friday after being convicted of spying for Russia during the 2008 war.

Military expert Vakhtang Maisaia was arrested in May last year on suspicion of passing information to Russia about Georgian arms purchases and military movements during the five-day war.

"The court found Vakhtang Maisaia guilty on the basis of the evidence submitted," said a spokeswoman for Tbilisi City Court, which held a closed-door trial.

At the time of Maisaia's arrest, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said he "inflicted great damage to the security of the country" and accused him of supplying Russia with hourly updates on Georgian army positions.

(Reuters)