Mastermind of Spanish businessmen abduction arrested in Georgia

The mastermind of two Spanish businessmen's abduction has been arrested in Georgia, his accomplices placed on a wanted list.

In the course of a special operation on June 22nd, officers of Georgia's State Security Ministry arrested Alen Borchashvili in the village of Sokupyano, the Pankisi Gorge, on suspicion of masterminding the crime. This was disclosed by Nika Laliashvili, spokesman for the ministry.

According to the official, Francisco Rodriguez, one of the kidnapped businessmen, recognised his kidnappers and the place, where he had been kept, thus rendering invaluable assistance to investigators.

Borchashvili is being interrogated in the Ministry of State Security at present.

Francisco Rodriguez and Antonio Trimillo were kidnapped on the outskirts of Tbilisi in November 2000. The abductors kept the businessmen chained in the village of Tuifi in the Pankisi Gorge (a Georgian district bordering on Chechnya) for a year. Allegedly, a significant ransom was paid for the Spanish businessmen.