In a significant development concerning national security, a 59-year-old Greek citizen, originally from Georgia, has been arrested and charged with espionage after allegedly photographing and videotaping military operations at the strategic port of Alexandroupoli. This port plays a crucial role as a logistics hub for U.S. and NATO operations, facilitating the movement of military resources in support of Ukraine and other NATO member states in Eastern Europe.
According to authorities, the suspect was detained earlier this week during a coordinated operation by local police and the National Intelligence Service. Officials stated that the individual was “acting on behalf of another individual” and transmitted the recordings via encrypted messaging. Further details regarding the identity of the individual he allegedly acted for remain undisclosed.
The Greek state television, ERT, has reported that the suspect is under scrutiny for possible connections to Russian security services, with links traced back to a contact in Lithuania. Specifically, his contact, suspected to be his handler, had been under surveillance by Greece’s National Intelligence Service (EYP) since August of 2024. The contact allegedly has ties to organized crime as well as a criminal record spanning both Greece and abroad, and was reportedly arrested in Lithuania in March.
The suspect appeared before a magistrate in Alexandroupoli for a preliminary hearing on Friday, where he denied all charges, claiming he had no intention of harming Greece’s interests, while also arguing that the photographs he took, depicting the transport of military equipment, had already been repeatedly published throughout various media outlets. Judicial authorities have confirmed that no trial date has yet been set.
This incident underscores the ongoing concerns regarding espionage activities in the region, particularly in light of the heightened geopolitical tensions surrounding NATO operations.
