Ioannis Aidinidis pleads not guilty to espionage charges in London

Ioannis Aidinidis, a 46-year-old man born in Georgia and residing in Munich, Germany, appeared before the Old Bailey court in London on Friday to formally plead not guilty to charges of surveillance on behalf of a foreign intelligence agency. The prosecution alleges that Aidinidis acted for Iran by surveilling a journalist working for the London-based outlet Iran International, a station known for its criticism of the Iranian government. The defendant, who required a Russian language interpreter during the court proceedings, was arrested and charged in May 2026 under the British National Security Act.

Prosecutors claim that Aidinidis traveled to the United Kingdom twice, in April and May, to conduct his surveillance operations. Reports from Bloomberg indicate that investigators found evidence of unconventional methods, including a hidden camera concealed inside a sock and attached to a tree. While the Iranian government has consistently denied any involvement in such operations, the British authorities maintain that the actions were carried out on Tehran's behalf. Currently, Aidinidis remains in custody, and his trial is scheduled to begin in May 2027.