Greek court sentences Azerbaijani man for spying on strategic NATO base

(Horizon Media) – A Greek court has sentenced a 27-year-old Azerbaijani man to seven years and one month in prison on espionage charges related to the monitoring of the Souda naval base on the island of Crete, according to Reuters.

The man, who has denied the accusations and appealed the ruling, was arrested last year following a joint surveillance operation conducted by Greek police and intelligence services. Authorities accused him of collecting and transmitting sensitive military information concerning the Souda base, a strategically important facility used by Greece, the United States and NATO.

Investigators stated that the suspect had been staying in a hotel room overlooking the naval and air force installations in Chania, western Crete, where he allegedly recorded videos and photographs of military activity. Evidence reportedly included dozens of videos and images of a Greek Navy frigate docked at the base for refuelling.

Greek authorities also seized a high-resolution camera equipped with a telephoto lens, storage devices and encryption software allegedly found on the suspect’s laptop.

The case comes amid heightened regional security concerns. Greek authorities are reportedly examining possible links between this case and a separate espionage-related arrest in Cyprus involving a British national suspected of ties to Iranian intelligence networks.