An Azerbaijani man has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including espionage, after allegedly photographing British and Cypriot military installations.
- An Azerbaijani man has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including espionage, after allegedly photographing British and Cypriot military installations.
- The case is set to proceed, as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged espionage.
The 44-year-old, who holds a British passport, appeared before the Limassol Permanent Criminal Court on Thursday. The court heard that he faces five charges, including espionage and illegally recording images of a prohibited area.
According to the indictment, the defendant was in Cyprus from April 1 to June 21, 2025, during which police allege he photographed the RAF Akrotiri base and the Andreas Papandreou air base in Paphos. These images were reportedly sent to a third party.
Authorities arrested the man in Limassol in June 2025, where he was found carrying over €5,000 in cash, including €4,400 and £805, which converts to approximately €925. He also possessed a Nikon Coolpix P1100 camera known for its significant optical zoom capability, as well as three mobile phones.
Prior to his arrest, the defendant had attracted the attention of security personnel due to his suspicious behaviour in the vicinity of the military bases. Physical surveillance indicated that he was actively photographing locations with both his professional camera and mobile devices.
On June 20, the defendant is alleged to have travelled from Limassol to the Andreas Papandreou air base, changing buses twice before renting a car from Paphos airport. Reports suggest he arrived shortly after US military transport aircraft and marines landed at the base.
During the court proceedings, the defence sought access to undisclosed materials related to the case, but the court deemed this request inadmissible, stating it pertained to sensitive information exchanged between Cyprus Police and foreign entities. Consequently, the court required the defendant to enter pleas for all five charges, which he refused.
The case is set to proceed, as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged espionage.
