11:00, 7 July 2011

The persons accused of espionage for Russia convicted in Georgia

The court in Batumi brought a verdict of guilty of espionage to nine defendants: four Russian and five Georgian citizens and sentenced them to custody terms from 11 to 14 years.

Earlier, the “Caucasian Knot” reported that on October, 29, 2010, the news of detention of 13 persons suspected of espionage for Russia in Georgia appeared.

Russian citizen Yury Skrylnikov got the most severe sentence. According to Georgian secret services, he had been a liaison between Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian General Staff and resident agency of Main Intelligence Directorate of Georgia. He was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment, radio “Svoboda” reports.

The day before announcement of the sentence attorney Zurab Rostiashvily informed that Skrylnikov was death sick and could not even move by himself, RIA “Novosti” reports.

The trial passed off in camera. None of the nine figurants acknowledged themselves guilty.