Azerbaijani National Arrested in Cyprus for Espionage: Surveillance and Targets

An Azerbaijani national, holding a British passport, has been arrested in Cyprus on espionage charges. The arrest operation was carried out by the Cypriot security authorities in cooperation with a foreign agency.

According to reports, the suspect was being monitored by agents to determine his exact movements. An official from the Crime Investigation Department Headquarters testified in the Limassol District Court that the Azerbaijani national was under physical surveillance.

The surveillance revealed that the arrested individual aimed to gather information against Western interests and participate in planning a terrorist act. He visited the Andreas Papandreou airbase in Paphos shortly after the arrival of American transport aircraft and marines on June 20.

The Azerbaijani national, believed to be acting on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, traveled from Limassol to Paphos by bus and rented a car for his movements. He resided in Zakaki, near the British bases of Akrotiri, and carried a high-definition camera and three mobile phones.

Authorities are also investigating a possible connection with the case of the 26-year-old arrested for espionage at the Souda naval base. The Azerbaijani national is being investigated for terrorism, espionage, conspiracy to commit a felony, and participation in crimes.

The arrest of the Azerbaijani national was reported in media outlets in Israel, Britain, and Iran. Israeli media reported that the arrested individual was planning an attack against Israeli citizens in Cyprus.