Azerbaijani reserve officer goes on trial for allegedly spying for Russia

Prosecutors charge that Pyotr Modzhalov, 45, was invited to pass military readiness information to Russian secret service agencies after befriending an officer with Russia's Joint Chief of Staff in 1997, an official at the Azerbaijani military court for grave crimes said.

The official spoke on condition on anonymity since the trial was taking place behind closed doors.

Working under the pseudonym of "Igor," Modzhalov, who was detained in October, was allegedly instructed also to provide information on the structure of the Azerbaijani top military command, as well as details of Azerbaijan's military capabilities, the official said.

He allegedly was paid between US$300 (?226) and US$400 (?301) for each bit of information.

He could get from 15 years to life in prison if convicted. The Associated Press

/The International Herald Tribune/