Court in Limassol rejects UK extradition request for espionage suspect

The Limassol District Court in Cyprus has rejected a request from the United Kingdom to extradite 45-year-old Rashad Sultanov. The suspect, an Azerbaijani national holding a British passport, was arrested by Cypriot police in the summer of 2025 on charges related to espionage, including the photographing of military installations within the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Areas.

The extradition request, submitted by the UK in June 2026, was denied by Judge M. Mytidis on the grounds that British authorities failed to ensure the suspect's right to effective legal representation in the UK. The court determined that the refusal by British services to fund defense counsel for the extradition proceedings violated both European law and the cooperation agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom, creating a real risk of fundamental rights infringement.

Following the court's decision, the case will now be referred to the Limassol Assize Court. The local prosecution is expected to re-file charges against Sultanov in Cyprus, where he will face trial for the alleged espionage activities committed on the island.