Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has arrested a Russian serviceman and his mother on accusations of spying for Georgia, the FSB public relations center said on Friday.
The alleged spies are Sr. Lt. David Aliyev and his mother Irina, a statement by the public relations center said.
According to the statement, the serviceman was deployed to one of the military units located at the Russian Southern Military District and at the same time he "had been collecting secret information about the district's troops by the order of the Georgian intelligence services." His mother was to deliver the gathered information to Georgia.
Aliyev and his mother have been charged with treason against the state and may be put behind bars for up to 20 years. The suspected spies have been detained.
A five-day military conflict occurred between Russian and Georgia in August 2008. They fought over the former Georgian republic of South Ossetia. Russia recognized South Ossetia and another former Georgian republic, Abkhazia, shortly after ceasefire.
Since then tensions between the both countries remain high with a couple spy rows unfolded in 2009 and 2010.
In the very recent case, a total of 13 people, including four Russians accused of spying, were arrested in Georgia in early November. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the Georgian claims false.
MOSCOW, January 14 (RIA Novosti)
