RAF Akrotiri spying case: British-Azerbaijani man held

A British-Azerbaijani dual citizen has been arrested in Cyprus and is facing extradition to the UK over alleged spying at RAF Akrotiri, London police said on Friday.

Rashad Sultanov, 44, was arrested by Cyprus police on July 17 as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing London investigation into incidents at the British air force base between May 11 and June 22, 2025.

UK authorities alleged that Sultanov carried out hostile surveillance on the base, which they described as a prohibited place, and then shared information with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Police said Sultanov is being held in custody while extradition proceedings continue.

A British national of Azeri descent was also arrested in Cyprus in June 2025 on spying and terror charges, suspected of links to Iran. Cypriot police at the time did not give details about the man, who was reportedly seen acting suspiciously near the base close to Limassol. London’s Metropolitan Police did not confirm to AFP whether Sultanov was the same person detained last year.

UK bases in Cyprus have drawn attention during the US and Israeli war against Iran, with London allowing Washington to use Akrotiri for what it called defensive operations against Tehran. In March, an Iranian-made drone hit the runway at the site in southern Cyprus.