Georgian photographer admits to spy claim
Source: Agencies |
July 10, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE personal photographer to the Georgian president was shown on television yesterday confessing to supplying a colleague with secret information that was then sent to a Russian secret service.
Irakli Gedenidze confessed to giving another photographer, Zurab Kurtsikidze, details of the president's itinerary, motorcade route and offices for unspecified remuneration. His wife Natia said she knew her husband was friends with Kurtsikidze and sent him the details of his bank account, but she did not confess to taking part in their dealings.
Irakli Gedenidze, Kurtsikidze and another photographer were charged with espionage early yesterday. Natia Gedenidze was released without charge.
Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Georgy Bukhrashvili told reporters yesterday that investigators believe Kurtsikidze, a photographer for European Pressphoto Agency, had "connections" with Russia's military intelligence unit, GRU, and hired the other two photographers to provide the secret information.
The spokesman identified two Russians - Anatoly Sinitsyn and Sergey Okorokov - as Kurtsikidze's contacts in Russian intelligence.
Bukhrashvili said the two men had taken pictures of the secret documents and then sent them to Kurtsikidze. The photographs were found in the two men's apartments.
National television showed Gedenidze's and his wife's statements on yesterday.
Neither Irakli Gedenidze nor his wife mentioned in their testimony the other photographer charged in the case, Georgy Abdaladze.
Abdaladze denies the espionage charge.
The three Georgian photographers are expected to face trial on September 1.
Irakli Gedenidze confessed to giving another photographer, Zurab Kurtsikidze, details of the president's itinerary, motorcade route and offices for unspecified remuneration. His wife Natia said she knew her husband was friends with Kurtsikidze and sent him the details of his bank account, but she did not confess to taking part in their dealings.
Irakli Gedenidze, Kurtsikidze and another photographer were charged with espionage early yesterday. Natia Gedenidze was released without charge.
Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Georgy Bukhrashvili told reporters yesterday that investigators believe Kurtsikidze, a photographer for European Pressphoto Agency, had "connections" with Russia's military intelligence unit, GRU, and hired the other two photographers to provide the secret information.
The spokesman identified two Russians - Anatoly Sinitsyn and Sergey Okorokov - as Kurtsikidze's contacts in Russian intelligence.
Bukhrashvili said the two men had taken pictures of the secret documents and then sent them to Kurtsikidze. The photographs were found in the two men's apartments.
National television showed Gedenidze's and his wife's statements on yesterday.
Neither Irakli Gedenidze nor his wife mentioned in their testimony the other photographer charged in the case, Georgy Abdaladze.
Abdaladze denies the espionage charge.
The three Georgian photographers are expected to face trial on September 1.
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