YEREVAN. Feb 5 (Interfax) - The Armenian intelligence agency has foiled an attempt to pass secret information to an Azeri intelligence agency, the Armenian National Security Service (NSS) told Interfax on Wednesday.
A 61-year-old man from Yerevan and former police officer, Police Colonel Khachik Martirosian has been arrested on suspicion of collaborating with an Azeri intelligence agency, the Armenian NSS said.
"Armenian intelligence agencies have conclusive evidence that Martirosian, in the expectation of financial assistance, contacted the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Georgia on his own initiative in August 2013 and established contact with the Azeri intelligence agents disguised as the embassy staff," the NSS said in a statement.
The Azeri intelligence agencies instructed Martirosian to obtain military intelligence, following which he "took effective steps," the statement said.
"Martirosian's plans to pass the obtained intelligence to the Azeris were foiled by the Armenian National Security Service agencies," the NSS said.
The Armenian NSS investigative directorate has opened a criminal case against Martirosian under part one article 299 of the Armenian Criminal Code (treason; punishable by ten to 15 years of imprisonment with or without property confiscation).