Suspected Spy Charged in Greece Over Alleged Surveillance of NATO Port
A 59-year-old man has been charged with espionage-related offenses and remanded in custody in Greece after allegedly photographing and filming military operations at the northeastern port of Alexandroupolis, a strategic transit point for U.S. and NATO equipment heading to Eastern Europe and Ukraine.
Greek authorities said the suspect, a Greek citizen of Georgian descent and permanent resident of Alexandroupolis, was arrested on April 29 in a joint operation between the Hellenic Police and the National Intelligence Service (EYP). Officials allege he collected sensitive material involving military convoys and installations, and transmitted the content via an encrypted messaging application to a foreign contact.
According to state broadcaster ERT and police sources, the man is under investigation for ties to Russian military intelligence, the GRU. Authorities believe he was recruited through a suspected GRU intermediary — a Georgian national with alleged organized crime links — reportedly based in Lithuania. The intermediary was arrested there in March, according to Greek media, though Lithuanian authorities have declined to comment.
The suspect, who previously served in the Russian military in Siberia, allegedly told investigators he initially expected financial compensation but ultimately chose to cooperate without payment. He is quoted as telling police, “I’ll do it for Mother Russia.” A police source said he had identified himself as a house painter during questioning.
Sensitive Data and Strategic Importance
Authorities recovered extensive photographic and video evidence from the suspect’s mobile phone, including footage of NATO logistics routes, troop movements, and military equipment at Alexandroupolis. Officials fear the data was part of a broader sabotage or intelligence-gathering effort.
During a preliminary court hearing on Friday, the man denied the charges, claiming that none of the material he captured was classified and that similar images had already appeared in public media. His lawyer argued that the case lacks evidence of transmitting confidential information.
No trial date has been set, but if convicted, the man faces a prison sentence of five to 10 years under Greek espionage laws.
Alexandroupolis has emerged as a vital logistics hub for NATO, particularly since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Greece, a NATO member with historic but increasingly strained ties to Moscow, has supported Ukraine with military aid and humanitarian assistance.
The investigation remains ongoing, with Greek intelligence working to trace the broader espionage network believed to be connected to Russian security services.