Azerbaijani Arrested in Cyprus for Espionage

Authorities in Cyprus have arrested an Azerbaijani man suspected of espionage and terrorism, allegedly linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, for monitoring British military bases including RAF Akrotiri and Andreas Papandreou Air Base. The suspect was apprehended near RAF Akrotiri with a camera and multiple mobile phones, following surveillance and intelligence from a cooperating foreign service. He appeared before a district court and was remanded in custody for eight days while investigations continue. The arrest comes amid heightened tensions related to the Israel-Iran conflict, with Cyprus's strategic location making it an increasingly important transit hub. In recent years, several Iran-linked terror plots have targeted Israeli and Western interests in both Cyprus and the UK. Officials have limited the release of further details due to national security concerns.