Souda: Azerbaijani Man, 26, Rejects Court-Appointed Lawyer Amid Espionage Allegations

The 26-year-old Azerbaijani national, a Polish citizen arrested on suspicion of espionage in Greece, has requested additional time to present his own lawyer before appearing in front of the prosecutor and attorney in Chania. According to authorities, the suspect arrived in Greece on June 18 with a Polish residency permit and booked a hotel room overlooking Souda Bay. As part of extraordinary measures taken due to developments in the Middle East and following the arrest of another Azerbaijani individual in Cyprus, he was placed under surveillance. During the police raid, the man offered no resistance but immediately requested legal representation. On Monday, June 23, after being provided with a court-appointed interpreter from Russian to Greek, he rejected the appointed lawyer, stating he would designate his own counsel. Meanwhile, over 5,000 photographs were seized from his laptop, phone, camera, and USB device, primarily depicting military vessels entering and exiting Souda Bay. Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the case given its international implications and the strategic importance of Souda Bay.