The Georgian man who was brought to Souda as a suspect for espionage is being taken to prison , after being convicted by the single-member misdemeanor court for illegal entry and stay in the country . The court found him guilty and imposed a two-year prison sentence and a fine of 5,000 euros, without suspension , paving the way for his incarceration while the investigation into the possibility of espionage is in full swing.
During his defense, with the help of a translator, he claimed to be a truck driver, attempting to disassociate his presence in Crete from any suspicious activity. However, findings from his digital media raise serious questions.
According to the information, photos of the Souda base, ship movements and images of the American aircraft carrier “Gerald Ford” were found on his mobile phone, an element that gives the case particular strategic importance . In addition, a message encryption application was found, which – according to the estimates of the Greek Police – is used by the Revolutionary Guards. The authorities are examining the possibility that he received orders through this specific platform.
The case bears similarities to that of Azeros, who was arrested last summer for espionage in Souda, as he was also using the same encryption application. In fact, the Georgian allegedly tried to find a room in the same hotel where Azeros had stayed, which reinforces suspicions of a possible intelligence-gathering network with common characteristics.
The accused was arrested while heading to the “El. Venizelos” airport, with an unknown destination. He had arrived in Chania in early February on a direct flight from Germany and since then he has allegedly been moving around the wider area of the base, taking photographs and observing.
Despite his conviction for administrative offenses, the substance of the case is now in the hands of the Anti-Terrorism Service, which is investigating whether the 36-year-old was indeed operating as a spy for a foreign power . The results of the digital analysis will determine whether the case will develop into a serious felony with broader national and international implications.
Souda, as a focal point for Greek and allied forces in the Eastern Mediterranean, remains at the center of an unseen information battle , with authorities examining whether this is an isolated incident or part of a broader plan to monitor strategic targets.
