MOSCOW, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- A Russian officer and his mother have been arrested for spying for Georgia, the Federal Security Service said Friday.
Senior Lt. David Aliyev, stationed in southern Russia, was "collecting secret information about the district's troops by the order of the Georgian intelligence services," the agency said in statement reported by RIA Novosti. His mother, Irina, was to deliver the information to Georgia.
The two are in custody, charged with treason, and face up to 20 years in prison.
Russia and Georgia fought a brief war in August 2008 over the secessionist republic of South Ossetia. Mutual accusations of espionage have followed.
In November, Georgia arrested 13 people on spy charges, including four Russians. The Russian Foreign Ministry denied the accusation.
