06.02 Russia Releases 2 Georgians Convicted of Espionage – Official

TBILISI, February 6 (RAPSI) – Russia has released two Georgian nationals arrested in 2008 and jailed for espionage, a Georgian official said Wednesday.

The move by Russia was the result of mutual negotiations, Zurab Abashidze, a special envoy of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, said during a briefing.

Russian law enforcement authorities did not immediately comment on the matter.

The unidentified Georgians were arrested after Russia and Georgia fought a brief war in August 2008. The two countries severed diplomatic ties after the military conflict, and Moscow recognized the breakaway Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.