The Georgian Border Police said on August 31 that it arrested a Finnish citizen who was “carrying out surveillance” in the north of the country near the Russian border in an attempt “to illegally infiltrate” Ingushetia, the Russian Federation Republic bordering with Chechnya.

Abu Bakar Heikkila arrived in Georgia on August 25 stating that he was a tourist wishing to visit Georgia’s Shatili district. Instead he departed to the area near the Ingush border, the Border Police press office said in a statement on August 31.

“For two days he was carrying out surveillance of the area and it seemed that he was waiting for someone. On August 28, he tried to hide when saw a group of border policemen approaching, but he was captured,” the Border Police said.

“According to preliminary information, Abu Bakar Heikkila changed his name when he converted to Islam. He was trying to cross the Georgian-Russian border illegally. Apart of personal items, a map of the North Caucasus, knives, binoculars, and other suspicious items were found in his bag,” the Border Police stated.

The Border Police said that Abu Bakar Heikkila was handed over to the Georgian counter-intelligence agency for further questioning. No other comment was made by Georgian officials.