Man arrested for spying in Britain’s Cyprus bases in UK’s first overseas National Security Act investigation

Local britainBritish BasesCrimeiranTop News Man arrested for spying in Britain’s Cyprus bases in UK’s first overseas National Security Act investigation Akrotiri British Bases Relevant News Two men attack and rob 23-year-old in Ayia Napa 31 July 2026 Man arrested for spying in Britain’s Cyprus bases in UK’s first overseas National Security Act investigation 31 July 2026 Holidays a luxury for three in ten Cypriots, data show 31 July 2026 newsroom 31 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Cypriot and British authorities have arrested a man in the first overseas investigation under Britain’s National Security Act, in relation to alleged spying on an RAF base in Cyprus. Rashad Sultanov, 45, a dual UK and Azerbaijani national of Islington, was arrested on Friday, July 17, and is being held in custody as extradition proceedings progress. The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised charges against him under the National Security Act. Sultanov was arrested as part of an investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing London into incidents at RAF Akrotiri between May 11, 2025, and June 22, 2025. He allegedly conducted hostile surveillance on the base, a prohibited place, and is alleged to have then shared information with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), a foreign intelligence service. The Republic of Cyprus had filed a case against Sultanov at the Limassol Criminal Court, facing serious charges including alleged surveillance at the “Andreas Papandreou” air base in Paphos. However, the Attorney General, considering a request from British authorities, decided to suspend the case and pursue his extradition instead. The suspension took effect last Friday, and Sultanov was immediately re-arrested on the basis of the British request. A hearing was subsequently set for the relevant court in Limassol, where Sultanov, through his lawyer Efstathios Efstathiou, was to present his position. Alleged Iran link According to information available to philenews, UK authorities believe Sultanov has a direct connection to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Based on the claims underpinning their request, he allegedly took visual material from within the bases’ buildings and sent it to his “handler,” believed to be Azerbaijani-Iranian national Elshad Elchin Hajiyev, who is wanted under an international arrest warrant. Confidential information previously received by the Republic of Cyprus reportedly names Hajiyev as the «mastermind» of a network tasked with gathering information on Iran’s behalf, and alleges he recruited a number of agents, including Sultanov. Monitoring RAF flights British authorities also believe Sultanov monitored and recorded the frequency of British fighter jet flights, passing the information to Hajiyev. If convicted of the offences he is suspected of in Britain, he faces up to 14 years in prison. The developments follow revelations first reported by philenews in early June. British authorities had issued an arrest and extradition warrant known in legal circles as a TCA (Trade and Cooperation Agreement) warrant, a mechanism the UK has used since Brexit to approach EU member states on such matters. The Cypriot Ministry of Justice was awaiting the necessary supporting documentation from British authorities to justify the warrant. The British request stems from allegations that Sultanov committed offences within areas falling under the jurisdiction of the Akrotiri bases, with British authorities maintaining that intelligence-gathering activity was carried out on British territory against their national interests. This comes at a time when the status of the bases and their involvement in Middle East military operations is occupying the Cypriot government, a situation recently covered in a Politico report on May 31, 2026. Why not Cyprus philenews sought answers as to why authorities decided to extradite Sultanov to Britain rather than try his case in Cyprus, given that he had also allegedly conducted surveillance of Republic of Cyprus military installations. A person familiar with the work of the prosecuting authorities said most of his alleged intelligence-gathering activity related to the Akrotiri bases, from which he is believed to have obtained a large volume of visual material. Intense interest Since Sultanov’s arrest in the Republic on June 21, 2025, British authorities have shown intense interest in the case, with journalists from England travelling to Cyprus shortly afterwards in an attempt to obtain information on the circumstances of his detection. In November 2025, revealed by philenews, the United Kingdom, through the EU’s Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), approached the Republic of Cyprus requesting the formation of a Joint Investigation Team to further investigate the case, underscoring the interest British intelligence services have shown in it. The case also connects to a wider alleged network linked to Hajiyev. Information secured by the Cyprus Police links him to a couple arrested in Cyprus on February 26, 2026. The individuals, a 28-year-old Azerbaijani man and a 27-year-old Estonian woman, were suspected of photographing locations of Israeli interest in Paphos. Classified intelligence suggested Hajiyev acted as their handler and arranged their travel to Cyprus. Hajiyev’s name first gained public prominence in late 2022, when Azerbaijan’s State Security Service exposed a network of Azerbaijani citizens recruited by Iranian intelligence. An official announcement issued by Azerbaijan in November 2022 stated that its State Security Service was investigating the covert involvement of citizens in foreign military exercises and their funding by Iranian special services. The statement identified Hajiyev, also known as Akram Hajizade, alongside Tohid Alim oglu Ibrahimbayli, Rovshan Elchin oglu Asadov, and Orkhan Kamran oglu Mammadov, as leaders of an illegal armed group formed under Iranian control. These individuals were placed on an international wanted list and are believed to be hiding in Iran. Appeal from Efstathiou An attempt by Sultanov’s defence to prevent his extradition to the United Kingdom was widely expected. On May 31, 2026, Efstathiou lodged an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), arguing that Sultanov’s detention at Nicosia Central Prison is unlawful and violates the European Convention on Human Rights. A separate legal remedy is also pending in the Republic of Cyprus. The defence notes that during initial detention hearings, Cyprus Police stated they had secured classified data from a foreign intelligence agency linking the suspect to the IRGC, alleging he held details on Cypriot military installations and planned a terrorist attack. Sultanov maintains that this source intelligence was never disclosed to him or the court. He further maintains that its origin was not verified, and that no evidence was submitted to prove the legality of its collection, processing and transfer. Sultanov faces a number of terrorism offences. He is alleged to have used specialised equipment to photograph the British Akrotiri bases, where the Royal Air Force is stationed, as well as the Andreas Papandreou Air Base. Investigators state he transmitted encrypted files containing these photographs to a liaison who may be connected to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. (With information from Sky News) Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Two men attack and rob 23-year-old in Ayia Napa Holidays a luxury for three in ten Cypriots, data show AC Milan legend Franco Baresi dies aged 66 Things to do on Friday, July 31 Two hospitalised for smoke inhalation after Paphos house fire Rent versus Instalment scheme: last chance to apply tonight Larnaca house fire caused by malicious act, authorities say Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.