Georgian photographers 'aided spy network'

TBILISI — Georgia on Friday rejected growing concern over the arrest of four top news photographers, saying they are suspected of spying for a foreign country and their detention has no link to journalism.

In the presidency's first comment on the arrests that shocked the media community, President Mikheil Saakashvili's spokeswoman said the four photographers were suspected of committing a serious security breach.

"I should make very clear: this case is about a serious infiltration of our institutions, not about journalism or media activities," spokeswoman Manana Manjgaladze said in a statement.

The photojournalists, including Saakashvili's own personal photographer, were detained in overnight raids on Thursday and are accused of spying for a foreign country.

Officials did not name the country involved but Georgia's pro-Western administration has repeatedly accused arch foe Russia of running espionage operations on its territory, both before and after the war they fought in 2008.

The photographers are accused of "passing confidential informations -- written documents in this case, or confidential agendas -- to an organisation identified as spying network", Manjgaladze said.

Few other details have emerged because the case has been classified as "secret", lawyers for the accused have said.

The four suspects include Saakashvili's photographer Irakli Gedenidze, who had "close access" to the Georgian leader, the statement noted.

European Pressphoto Agency photographer Zurab Kurtsikidze, foreign ministry press centre photographer Giorgi Abdaladze, and Gedenidze's wife, local newspaper photographer Natia Gedenidze, are the others who were held.

Abdaladze's lawyer described the accusations as "absurd".

"As Abdaladze says, he didn't have access to any state secrets, so he couldn't have passed anything on," lawyer Ramaz Chinchaladze told journalists.

Georgian media reported that the investigation was continuing, with court appearances expected later Friday or on Saturday.

The photographers could face up to 12 years in jail if convicted of espionage, local reports have suggested.

It is believed that journalists have never before been detained for spying in Georgia, and campaign group Reporters Without Borders expressed concern about the potential impact of the arrests on press freedom in the country.

"It is really disquieting that some of the most prominent photojournalists in Georgia are accused of spying," Johann Bihr of Reporters Without Borders told AFP.

The European Pressphoto Agency which employed photographer Zurab Kurtsikidze has called on the authorities to "correct this misunderstanding".

"Zurab always worked in strict respect of journalistic ethics and within the framework authorised by Georgian authorities," the agency's editor-in-chief Cengiz Seren said in a statement on Thursday.

The arrests came a day after nine people including four Russian citizens were sentenced to jail terms ranging from 11 to 14 years for alleged involvement in a major Moscow-backed espionage network in Georgia.

Georgia has also accused its ex-Soviet neighbour of organising a series of explosions and several attempted bomb blasts on its territory over the past year.

Moscow however has denied this, describing it as anti-Russian propaganda.

Georgia's ambitions to join Western organisations such as NATO have caused increasing friction with the Kremlin since Saakashvili came to power after the Rose Revolution in 2003.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How a cyber attack hampered Hong Kong protesters

‘The chances of nuclear use are minimal. Both Russia & Ukraine are well aware of results’: DB Venkatesh Varma

Pak off FATF Grey List; ‘Black Spot’ on Fight Against Terror Irks India; J&K Guv Says 'World is Watching'