Transdnestrian journalist admits spying for Moldova
11:0212/05/2010 TIRASPOL, May 12 (RIA Novosti) - A Transdnestrian journalist arrested by security forces in the unrecognized republic on charges of spying for Moldova has admitted his guilt.
Ernest Vardanyan, detained on April 7, made the confession in a televised video address.
The journalist said he was recruited by the Moldavian Security and Information Service (SIS) while he was studying at Chisinau State University in 2001. He said that SIS officials had insinuated that he and his wife would face problems with their continued studies in Moldova if he refused.
"I agreed to cooperate with SIS and now I realize I made a big mistake," the journalist said.
Vardanyan said he kept on spying for Moldova after graduating from university and finding work as a journalist in his homeland. He gathered information on Transdnestrian domestic policy, and personally met with top officials, whom he said were sometimes "too trusting".
However, after getting a job at the UN secretariat in 2009, Vardanyan attempted to put an end to his spying career.
"When I told my recruiter Nikolai Botezatu about my forthcoming work at he UN, he said we would not end our cooperation," the journalist said adding that after arriving in New York he continued spying on other countries, especially Russia.
Vardanyan, who faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on treason charges, said he was not a traitor, but a victim of circumstances.
Transdnestrian State Security Minister Vladimir Antifeev has said Vardanyan "has realized his current condition and has agreed to cooperate with the investigation".
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