The key facts
- Ioannis Aidinidis, 46, born in Georgia and living in Munich, is accused of spying on an Iran International journalist in April and May
- According to the prosecution, on his second trip he installed a hidden camera concealed in a sock, capable of transmitting data to 'unknown persons abroad'
- The trial is scheduled for May next year; the case is part of a series of incidents surrounding the channel, including a knife attack and an arson
The defendant pleaded not guilty
Ioannis Aidinidis, a 46-year-old Greek national born in Georgia and living in Munich, will stand trial on charges of spying on a journalist from the London-based television channel Iran International, which is critical of the Iranian authorities. He was charged under the UK's national security law in May. At a hearing at the Old Bailey in London, appearing by video link from Belmarsh prison through a Russian interpreter, he declared his innocence; he will remain in custody until the trial in May next year. This was reported by The National.
What are the charges
According to the prosecution's account presented at the first hearing, Aidinidis travelled to the United Kingdom twice — in April and May — to observe the channel's journalist. He is accused of photographing and filming addresses and licence plates connected with the journalist during both trips. On the second trip, the prosecution claims, he installed a hidden camera concealed in a sock, capable of transmitting data to 'unknown persons abroad'. Police previously said that Aidinidis's actions are believed to have been carried out in Iran's interests; Tehran has repeatedly denied involvement in attacks and plots in the UK.
Context: a series of cases surrounding the channel
The case is being heard against the backdrop of a string of incidents connected with Iran International. In early 2023, death threats led to round-the-clock police protection of the channel's studios in west London by the Metropolitan Police; some journalists were relocated to the United States, while others were instructed to work from home. Magomed-Husein Dovtaev, an Austrian citizen of Chechen origin, was sentenced to three years and six months for gathering information that could be used for a terrorist attack on the channel: having flown in from Vienna, he secretly filmed the headquarters on his phone in order to 'identify vulnerabilities' in its security. In July this year, two Romanians were sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison for a knife attack on the channel's journalist Pouria Zeraati, in a plot orchestrated by the Iranian regime. In August, three men admitted involvement in the arson attack on the channel's offices in north-west London: 19-year-old Nathan Dunn pleaded guilty to arson 'reckless as to endangerment of life', 21-year-old Oisin McGinniss had earlier pleaded guilty to the arson, while a 17-year-old teenager, who denied the more serious charge, will stand trial on 1 February 2027, as the prosecution did not accept his plea to the lesser offence.
