South Ossetia jails Georgian for spying
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 18 July 2014 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, South Ossetia jails Georgian for spying, 18 July 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54003df15.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 18, 2014
A court in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia has sentenced a Georgian citizen to 10 years and two months in jail.
South Ossetia's Committee for State Security (KGB) said on July 18 that Guram Gegelashvili, 57, was found guilty of espionage and illegal weapon possession.
Investigators say Gegelashvili was providing Georgia's secret services with "intelligence" information.
The region has enjoyed de facto independence from Georgia since August 2008, when Russia recognized South Ossetia and another Georgian breakaway territory, Abkhazia, as independent states after defeating Georgian troops in a short war.
Russia has been keeping military forces in both separatist regions since then.
Georgia considers the breakaway regions part of its territory.
Based on reporting by Interfax and ITAR-TASS
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
