A British man with dual citizenship has been detained in Cyprus in connection with alleged offences concerning an overseas military location, marking the first case pursued under the National Security Act in such circumstances.
Rashad Sultanov, 44, originally from central London and also an Azerbaijani national, was apprehended by Cypriot authorities on Friday, 17 July. He currently remains in custody while extradition procedures are underway.
The arrest stems from an investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing London into activities at RAF Akrotiri between 11 May and 22 June 2025. Sultanov is accused of conducting hostile surveillance on this prohibited military base and allegedly passing sensitive information to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the intelligence service of a foreign state, according to reports from the Daily Star.
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The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has formally authorised charges under sections 3 and 4 of the National Security Act concerning this matter. Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, commented:
“This case demonstrates our capability to apply the National Security Act overseas when British military sites are targeted by hostile actions from state actors.”
She added, “Significant collaborative efforts have taken place between British and Cypriot law enforcement agencies. We continue to work closely with the CPS, the National Crime Agency, and Cypriot officials as the extradition process moves forward.”