Greek Air Force Squadron Commander Charged with Espionage for China Links

A new dimension has emerged in the high-profile espionage case involving a Greek Air Force Squadron Commander accused of leaking classified military information to recipients linked to China. The officer, arrested for collecting and transmitting state secrets that endanger national interests, admitted during his testimony before the Military Prosecutor and Investigating Judge that his activities involved individuals or channels connected to China. He appeared today (06.02.2026) at the Air Force Court building shortly before 10:00 a.m., escorted by Hellenic Air Force personnel. Following his testimony, criminal charges were formally filed, and he was immediately placed on administrative leave per a decision by Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Houps. He is currently detained at an Air Force unit in Vyronas and must complete his formal statement by Tuesday, 10.02.2026. Notably, under the recently passed ‘sweeping’ defense bill — the ‘Transition Charter for the Armed Forces to the New Era’ — the accused faces potential loss of Greek citizenship. Article 298 of the law stipulates that conviction for espionage-related offenses under Articles 146 (Penal Code) or 144 (Military Penal Code), especially with final sentencing, may result in denaturalization. While Minister Nikos Dendias previously deferred questions on this provision to closed-door briefings, the officer’s apparent admission now brings this unprecedented clause into sharp focus — suggesting authorities may have had intelligence about his illegal conduct since early January.