Georgian police detained 20 people suspected of spying for Russia, Georgian security sources said Friday.
The detainees, all Georgian citizens, are accused of forming a spy network and passing secret information to Russia, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The Georgian Interior Ministry declined to confirm or deny the report.
"We refrain from comments right now. An official announcement will be made at a press conference on Nov. 5," Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said.
In March, a Rostov-on-Don military court convicted a Georgian and two former Russian military officers of spying for Georgia.
In January, a former Georgian diplomat who advised the country's mission to NATO was sentenced to 20 years in jail after being convicted of spying for Russia during the 2008 war.
In 2006, Georgia detained four Russian military officers and 12 other people on charges of collecting information on Tbilisi's relations with NATO, as well as on its seaport and railway infrastructure, opposition parties and army.
(Reuters, MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
