The 59-year-old house painter, a Greek national of Georgian origin, is appearing in court today in Alexandroupoli after being arrested by Greek police with assistance from the National Intelligence Service (EYP). He faces charges of peacetime espionage, which carry a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years.

Low Profile, High Stakes

The suspect had been permanently residing in Alexandroupoli and reportedly maintained a low social profile. The investigation into his activities was triggered by the arrest of a criminal in Lithuania, who was found to have incriminating information on his mobile phone. This discovery led Lithuanian authorities to alert Athens, which then enabled Greek intelligence to track down and arrest the 59-year-old.

Recruitment and Espionage Activities

Authorities believe the man was recruited by a Russian intelligence agency and acted as a local informant, photographing and filming military infrastructure in Alexandroupoli and the border region of Evros—an area of strategic importance given the transfer of military equipment toward Ukraine in recent years.

He allegedly transmitted audio-visual material regarding military facilities, vehicle movements, and equipment transfers through digital apps to his handler, who is based in Lithuania and holds a Greek passport but is originally from a former Soviet state.

How He Was Caught

Greek authorities began closely monitoring him after the Lithuanian arrest. Upon his capture, searches were conducted at his residence and a storage unit, and evidence was recovered from his phone, documenting his surveillance activities over the past month.

The suspect was instructed by his handler on how to avoid detection—advising him to dress in athletic clothes, carry a stick, and pose as a hiker while taking photos and videos of sensitive sites.

“For Mother Russia”

During his interrogation, the man claimed he wasn’t motivated by money. Instead, he reportedly said he acted “for Mother Russia”, referencing his past military service in the Soviet army in Siberia. He admitted that the person who recruited him had offered payment, but he insisted that his actions were ideologically driven.

Authorities suspect the recruiter was linked to a transnational criminal network based in Eastern Europe, involved in drug and arms trafficking, as well as contract killings. The same network allegedly used its criminal ties to recruit the 59-year-old and task him with spying activities on behalf of Russian intelligence.

For at least six months, the man is believed to have operated freely in Alexandroupoli, collecting and forwarding classified information. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are now working to determine the full extent of the espionage activity and any additional individuals involved.