Greek authorities have arrested a 59-year-old Georgian-born man in the northeastern city of Alexandroupoli on charges of spying for Russian intelligence, security officials said on Thursday.
The suspect, a house painter who had lived in Greece for several years, was allegedly recruited in late 2024 by a fellow Georgian national believed to have links to Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU.
According to officials, evidence recovered from the suspect’s mobile phone indicates he had been conducting surveillance on military installations for at least six months. His activities reportedly included photographing equipment shipments—particularly those destined for Ukraine—and transmitting the images and related information to his handler.
“He claimed he was willing to help the ‘motherland’ for any amount,” a Greek security source told Reuters.
The alleged recruiter, also of Georgian origin, had previously conducted reconnaissance for Russian services before moving to Lithuania, where he was arrested earlier this year, according to Greek officials.
Authorities say the suspect’s motivations appear to be rooted in pro-Russian sentiment rather than financial gain.
The case adds to a growing list of espionage incidents in Europe attributed to Russian intelligence services, including previous operations uncovered by Greek and Baltic security agencies.
