Company run by arrested Armenian businessmen closed down in Georgia

Saybolt international company’s branch office in Georgia has closed down, according to Georgian news agency Novosti-Gruzia.

Earlier the company’s General Director Armen Gevorgyan and Deputy Director Ruben Khikoyan were arrested on charges of espionage. They were particularly accused of spying for Russia.

The representative of the company’s Batumi branch refrained from any comments.

Georgian Interior Ministry has today published the list of the individuals arrested on suspicion of involvement in the spying network. Most of the detainees are Georgian and only four are Russian citizens.

The arrested Director and Deputy Director face charges under Article 314 of the Georgian Criminal Code (espionage).

Georgian law enforcers claim that Gevorgyan transferred to Russia’s Defense Ministry confidential data on the country’s armed forces.

Khikoyan is accused of disclosing confidential information on the military purchase agreements concluded between Georgian Defense Ministry and foreign companies.