Breaking News: British Man Arrested for Spying in Cyprus
A British man has been arrested on suspicion of spying on a UK military base in Cyprus. Rashad Sultanov, 44, from Islington, London, is accused of conducting “hostile surveillance” on RAF Akrotiri. He allegedly shared information with the Iranian military’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Sultanov, who also has Azerbaijani citizenship, was taken into custody by Cypriot police on July 17. He is currently awaiting extradition proceedings.
The Crown Prosecution Service plans to charge him under the National Security Act. This is the first investigation of an alleged offense under the 2023 law in an overseas territory.
The UK has operated a permanent base at Akrotiri since the 1950s. Recently, RAF operations have targeted Iranian missiles and drones from this location.
The investigation, led by Counter Terrorism Policing London, focused on alleged spying activities between May 11 and June 22, 2025.
Commander Helen Flanagan of CTP London stated that this case highlights the ability to apply the National Security Act overseas. Collaboration continues between British and Cypriot law enforcement as extradition proceedings move forward.
