A 59-year-old man of Georgian origin and permanent resident of Alexandroupolis has been arrested for allegedly photographing and filming military installations on behalf of a foreign agent, Greek authorities confirmed following a joint operation by the National Intelligence Service (EYP) and the Alexandroupolis Security Directorate.
According to a police statement issued on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the suspect was caught collecting sensitive military material and sending it to a third party using an encrypted messaging application. During interrogation, he confessed to acting under the direction of another individual who is reportedly outside Greece.
Greek public broadcaster ERT reported that authorities suspect the man’s actions may have been part of a broader sabotage plan targeting military facilities. The person who recruited him is believed to be a member of an international criminal network and was allegedly recruited by the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, specifically to enlist individuals for espionage activities related to military infrastructure.
The suspect, who served in the Russian military in Siberia during his youth, reportedly admitted that although he was initially promised financial compensation, he ultimately chose to cooperate voluntarily. He is quoted as saying: “I’ll do it for Mother Russia.”
A significant amount of footage and photographs were recovered from the suspect’s mobile phone, including recordings of military movements, logistics routes, and base facilities in Alexandroupolis — a city that has become strategically important due to its role in NATO military aid transport to Ukraine.
Authorities believe that the data was being funneled directly to the GRU-affiliated recruiter abroad. The encrypted files reportedly documented the transfer and deployment of military equipment, with some material allegedly linked to operations involving the war in Ukraine.
The investigation by the National Intelligence Service is ongoing to determine the full extent of the espionage network and to trace the GRU-affiliated operative believed to be orchestrating the operation from abroad.
Source: sigmalive.com, Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
