Newsroom
Ongoing intelligence investigations in Greece have uncovered connections between a 26-year-old Azerbaijani arrested in Crete and a 44-year-old compatriot apprehended in Cyprus. The latter is accused of photographing the British base in Limassol, raising concerns about the presence of a broader network of foreign operatives in the region.
The Cyprus arrest took place just days before the 26-year-old’s detention in Crete, suggesting coordinated activities across borders. Investigators noted striking similarities in the suspects’ methods, photographic equipment, and digital operations. Both individuals reportedly used the same encryption software, Encryptor, to secure files they sent to their handlers.
While the Greek operation focused on military installations in Crete, including the Souda naval base, the Cypriot case shows that the network’s scope extended beyond Greece, targeting strategic sites in Cyprus as well. The 44-year-old’s activities mirrored those documented in Greece, showing a pattern consistent with intelligence operations linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Authorities are examining whether the Cyprus suspect acted independently or as part of a coordinated effort with his counterpart in Greece. Intelligence sources suggest that both men were recruited by Iran and may have been carrying out reconnaissance for military and strategic targets.
With information from Kathimerini Greece.
