Georgian MIA: detained photographer Gedenidze confesses of spying

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Georgia has circulated a video record of confessional evidences given by Irakli Gedenidze, one of the photographers, detained on suspicion of spying.

The MIA asserts that Abdaladze, Kurtsikhidze and Gedenidze are accused of spying in favour of the Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. According to an official statement of the Georgian MIA, Irakli Gedenidze, the personal photographer of the President of Georgia, and photographer Georgi Abdaladze, who worked for the newspaper "Alia" and the Georgian MIA, had delivered secret information through the photojournalist Zurab Kurtsikhidze, who, according to investigators, sent the information to the Russian news agency associated with Russian special services.

According to the MIA, the transferred data contained state secrets and had nothing to do with direct execution of journalistic duties. In support of this version the MIA posted a video record on its official website, where the photographer Irakli Gedenidze confessed that he had delivered information to Zurab Kurtsikhidze. According to Gedenidze, initially Kurtsikhidze had asked to give him photos of various events, where President of Georgia took part.

"After a while, he already asked to make comments and records to provided photos in exchange for appropriate remuneration," said the detainee. "Some time later, Zurab demanded that I provide other information, which was beyond my professional duties, that is making photos. I already guessed that it was associated with intelligence services; this feeling became even stronger, because I knew that he sent photos to some photo agency in Moscow. I refused and told him that I would not deliver such information, but he reminded me about the signatures that I had left, when I received money for photos. He also promised to use these facts against me; that is, he tried to blackmail me."

According to Gedenidze, he was frightened and "had to continue his relationship" with Kurtsikhidze.

Nino Andriashvili, Zurab Kurtsikhidze's advocate, said that her client did not admit his charges.

The photographer of the newspaper "Alia" Georgi Abdaladze has also rejected the accusations and continues his dry hunger strike, announced in protest against his detention.