Investigation Continues Into Azerbaijani Man Arrested for Espionage Near Souda Bay

Agents from the Greek police are intensively investigating the connection between a 26-year-old Azerbaijani man and his compatriot, who was arrested in Cyprus for espionage, as well as the possibility of him being recruited by Iranian authorities. The mysterious individual was caught with 5,000 photographs of the American naval base near Souda Bay on Crete. Upon noticing suspicious movements in the area, agents conducted a search of his hotel room where they found incriminating photographic evidence leading to his immediate arrest. So far, the suspect has refused to cooperate with Greek authorities and has declined the appointment of a public defender, insisting he has his own legal representation. He arrived in Chania on June 18th, heading directly to Souda Bay, requesting a month-long stay in a room overlooking the naval base, paying in cash. Due to heightened security measures concerning the situation in the Middle East, Greek authorities quickly identified and detained him within days. However, before his arrest, he managed to capture 5,000 images of the naval base. His mobile phone and laptop have been seized and are under thorough examination by the police. Police spokesperson Konstantia Demogliddou stated that authorities aim to recover deleted material from his devices and identify who recruited the Azerbaijani citizen. It is known that Iran recruits citizens from Azerbaijan to serve as spies. Additionally, it was clarified that this is the first time the Azerbaijani, who holds a Polish passport, has visited Greece, raising questions about potential connections.