Georgia Says Four Photojournalists Arrested For Spying

Journalists protest outside the Interior Ministry office in Tbilisi on July 7 following the arrests.

Georgian officials say four news photographers arrested overnight are accused of spying for a foreign country.

Deputy Interior Minister Eka Zguladze told AFP that "very serious charges will be put forward" against them, but did not identify the foreign country involved.

The four arrested photographers are Zurab Kurtsikidze, a photographer for the European Pressphoto Agency; freelancer Giorgi Abdaladze; and presidential photographer Irakli Gedenidze and his photographer wife Natia.

AFP reported that a fifth photographer, Shakh Aivazov of the Associated Press, was detained but later released without charge.

compiled from agency reports