Russian spy camera plot exposed: Cyprus shell firms tied to Slovak traffic scandal

Local croatiarussiascandalTop News Russian spy camera plot exposed: Cyprus shell firms tied to Slovak traffic scandal Kyria Photo Cameres Relevant News Russian spy camera plot exposed: Cyprus shell firms tied to Slovak traffic scandal 29 August 2026 Europol tip stops hitmen in Cyprus: Police smash murder-for-hire plot 29 August 2026 CIA director’s secret Moscow warning fails to shift Putin’s Ukraine strategy 29 August 2026 Fanis Makrides 29 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Three Nicosia-registered companies sharing common ownership are linked to a scandal shaking Slovakia since early August involving a government contract to purchase 279 speed cameras. Opposition politicians, Slovak media, and Swiss outlet Neue Zürcher Zeitung report the camera contract may have been a Russian intelligence operation aimed at espionage on Slovak territory. Reports indicate the cameras trace back to a Russian manufacturer through a covert scheme routed via Cyprus. Phileleftheros tracked down three legal entities registered in Cyprus that are directly or indirectly involved in the case: Sodasus Ltd, Fidesta Management Ltd, and Fidesta Ltd. Slovak state documents identify one of the entities as the camera manufacturer. Official records reveal the Cyprus-based companies are controlled by two individuals from a Baltic state. Sodasus Ltd, Fidesta Management Ltd, and Fidesta Ltd list Sens Zalitis and Artis Rozenbergs as ultimate beneficial owners and shareholders. Slovak state documents inspecting technical specifications and contract details list Sodasus Ltd as the camera manufacturer. However, corporate filings do not support this claim. Sodasus Ltd filed its corporate objective with the Cyprus Registrar of Companies as “Investment operations and other” and holds no public record of manufacturing activity. Fidesta Management Ltd appears as the sole shareholder of Sodasus Ltd. Fidesta Management Ltd is owned by Fidesta Ltd, which is held equally by Latvian nationals Sens Zalitis and Artis Rozenbergs, who each hold 50 shares. All three firms listed identical primary business objectives upon incorporation. Corporate registry records show minimal financial activity for Sodasus Ltd and Fidesta Management Ltd, involving sums of a few hundred euros. Audited financial statements for Fidesta Ltd present a different picture, showing active turnover. According to its website, Fidesta Ltd advertises administrative management services. The company states online that it is a corporate management firm licensed and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) as an Administrative Services Provider specializing in Cyprus company and trust formations. Relevant authorities confirmed that Slovak officials have made no request for assistance to Cyprus Police, and law enforcement agencies have not initiated inquiries into potential offences. A Cypriot official representing Fidesta Ltd responded in writing to queries sent by Phileleftheros on behalf of the company owners. The company stated it takes its legal and corporate responsibilities as a licensed administrative service provider very seriously. It added that it has not authorized or approved any transaction, nor received instructions from the beneficial owner of Sodasus Ltd to execute transactions, and will cooperate with competent authorities through established procedures where appropriate. Slovak electronic media first reported the issue during the first ten days of August after the delivery of two testing units. Tests revealed the cameras were identical to devices manufactured by a Russian firm, sparking backlash from the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party and criticism aimed at Slovakia’s Interior Minister, leading to the suspension of the contract. PS official Peter Bátor questioned the supply route on 7 August, noting that Croatia is the only EU country besides Slovakia licensed to use Russian cameras manufactured by Simicon. Bátor stated available information showed the supply route originated at Russian firm Simicon, passed through Croatia to Cyprus shell company Sodasus Ltd, then to Slovak firm It-s j.s.a., before reaching Soitron, which supplied two systems to the Interior Ministry for €160,000. The issue gained international attention following reporting by Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung. Subsequent reports highlighted that the Slovak Interior Ministry suspended the 279-camera order from Sodasus Ltd after discovering the devices were produced in Saint Petersburg by Russian manufacturer Simicon (OOO Simicon). Expert analysis by Slovakia’s National Security Office identified a hidden slot for a second SIM card capable of receiving SMS commands from Russian phone numbers, creating an espionage risk. Similar Russian-made cameras are operating in several EU nations, including Croatia. Reports noted that in 2025, GRU-linked hackers known as APT 28 compromised over 10,000 cameras in Europe to monitor military facilities and aid shipments to Ukraine. Inspectors reportedly found a second SIM card slot on one tested unit that was unlisted in technical documentation. Experts established the devices could receive SMS commands from 12 phone numbers registered in Saint Petersburg, Leningrad, and Kemerovo regions. 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