As part of the first National Security Act inquiry into alleged breaches in a foreign jurisdiction, a man has been detained in Cyprus.
Islington resident Rashad Sultanov, 44, a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Azerbaijan, was detained by Cypriot officials on Friday, July 17, while extradition processes are ongoing.
Charges under the National Security Act have been approved by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Sultanov was taken into custody as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London investigation into events that occurred at RAF Akrotiri between May 11 and June 22, 2025.
He allegedly transmitted material with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), a foreign intelligence agency, after conducting hostile surveillance on the base, which is forbidden.
The case “shows we are able to use the National Security Act overseas when British military bases are allegedly targeted by hostile state activity,” according to CTP London chief Commander Helen Flanagan.
“A huge amount of partnership work has been carried out between British and Cypriot law enforcement agencies,” she continued.
As extradition procedures move forward, we continue to collaborate with colleagues from the CPS, National Crime Agency, and Cypriot authorities.”
Sections three and four of the National Security Act—which deal with “assisting a foreign intelligence service” and “entering etc a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK”—were used by the CPS to sanction the charges.
Two British sovereign military stations in Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri and Dhekelia Station, were established in the 1950s.
On suspicion of spying for the Iranian military on a UK military facility in Cyprus, a British citizen has been taken into custody.
The 44-year-old Rashad Sultanov of Islington, north London, is charged with providing intelligence to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and conducting “hostile surveillance” on RAF Akrotiri.
Sultanov, who is also a citizen of Azerbaijan, was taken into prison by Cypriot police on July 17 and is awaiting extradition.
He will face charges under the National Security Act, according to the Crown Prosecution Service. This is the first time a suspected offence under the 2023 statute has been looked into in a foreign country.
Since the 1950s, the UK has kept a permanent station at Akrotiri, and in recent months, RAF missions have been conducted from there to fire down Iranian missiles and drones.
Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London oversaw the inquiry, which concentrated on alleged espionage between May 11 and June 22, 2025.
“This case shows we are able to use the National Security Act overseas when British military bases are allegedly targeted by hostile state activity,” stated Commander Helen Flanagan, head of CTP London.British and Cypriot law enforcement organisations have collaborated extensively.
“We continue to work with colleagues from the CPS, National Crime Agency and Cypriot authorities as extradition proceedings progress.”