Ex-Official Accused of Spying Pleads Guilty
Simon Kiladze, a former employee of the President?s Press Office arrested on March 28 on spying charges, pled guilty today and asked the president to pardon him.
Kiladze, who was in charge of monitoring the foreign press at the Georgian President?s Press Office, stands accused by the authorities of passing information to the special services of one unnamed foreign country.
On April 12 the Georgian Interior Ministry disseminated video footage showing Kiladze?s testimony to local television stations.
?In May 2004 I received an electronic mail, in which I was offered to submit information in exchange for remuneration … Since my family was in urgent need, I accepted the proposal and subsequently I regularly provided them with information about the current situation in our country, the problems, the president and his team, top officials, the visits of governmental delegations and the decisions made,? Kiladze said in the video.
?I plead guilty and want to ask the president to pardon me. I am ready to cooperate with the investigation and deliver all the information I have,? he added.
After Kiladze?s arrest President Saakashvili said on March 28 that Georgia?s special services have information about the presence of a network of spies operating in the country?s governmental structures and said that he guarantees the security of those people who begin cooperating with the Georgian special services before May 1, 2006.
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