Four photographers - Gia and Natia Gedenidze, Giorgi Abdaladze and Zurab Kurtsikidze - detained two days ago, have been accused of espionage. Representative of Georgia`s Interior Ministry held Saturday a special briefing, Rustavi 2 reports.

The ministry reports, in consequence of the investigation it has been ascertained that Zurab Kurtsikidze has ties with representatives of the main intelligence department of Russia`s Defence Ministry. In particular, he had ties with A. Sinitsin and S. Okrokov, accused of espionage and wanted by the Georgian law enforcement structures.

Zurab Kurtsikidze also had ties with citizens of Russian Federation. Reportedly, in return for material remuneration, Irakli Gedenidze and Giorgi Abdaladze, who were public officials, used to take photos of documents including secret information and give them to Kurtsikidze, who on his hand used to sent the information to Moscow.

After having searched personal belongings of Irakli Gedenidze and Giorgi Abdaladze and examined the materials in their PCs, law enforcers found photos of schematic drafts of the president`s administrative building, also charts showing routes of the president`s travels, details about the president`s visits and meetings and other secret information.
Investigation over the case is underway in the Counter-Intelligence Department of Interior Ministry.