In Israel, seven citizens from Azerbaijan accused of spying for Iran

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Seven Israeli citizens, natives of Azerbaijan, are suspected of spying for Iran, reports Today in Israel.
Over a period of two years, the Israeli citizens carried out some 600 assignments for Iranian handlers, passing on information about strategically important Israeli military sites such as the Nevatim and Ramat David air force bases and Iron Dome positions. These sites were reportedly the targets of a recent Iranian missile strike.
The payment for their services amounted to hundreds of thousands of shekels, paid partly in cash and partly in cryptocurrency. According to the investigation, the suspects transmitted data through encrypted channels and received detailed instructions on which targets to photograph and how much was due.
This is one of the most serious espionage cases in recent years. The detainees were arrested on Sept. 19 and an indictment will soon be filed against them, charging them with espionage and collaboration with the enemy – crimes that carry penalties of up to life imprisonment in Israel.
Among the defendants are two minors. The others are adults living in Haifa and northern Israel, including a deserter soldier.
The suspects are Aziz Nisanov, Alexander Sedikov, Yigal Nisan, Vyacheslav Gushchin, Yevgeny Yoffe and two minors whose names could not be published.
They were granted Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return, and according to the investigation, they had no permanent jobs – their main motivation was monetary interest.
During the investigation, investigators used wiretaps that showed that the suspects were actively seeking new assignments.
Some of them were arrested at the scene while filming military installations in southern Israel. Coordination with Iran took place through a Turkish intermediary named Alhassan, who authorities say is linked to other spy networks in the region.