Over 5,000 photos of the Souda base were taken within four days by a 26-year-old Azeri man, who was arrested on Sunday for espionage based on intelligence and at the recommendation of the Greek National Intelligence Service (EYP), sources said on Monday.

According to information released by authorities, the 26-year-old arrived in Greece on June 18 with a Polish residence permit and booked a hotel room, specifically requesting a view of Souda Bay.

The 26-year-old was identified by EYP as part of the emergency measures implemented in the country due to developments in the Middle East, as well as following the arrest of another Azeri in Cyprus. He was subsequently placed under surveillance.

According to the same sources, during his stay at the hotel, he left his room only twice to buy essential items from a nearby mini market.

At the time of the police raid, the 26-year-old Azeri offered no resistance and immediately requested a lawyer.

A laptop, a mobile phone, a camera and a USB were found and confiscated in the room, which, as it turned out, contained over 5,000 photos, mainly of warships entering and leaving Souda Bay.

According to the same information, the 26-year-old Azeri had special encryption software installed on his laptop, while the photos were sent to an unknown recipient.

At the police station where he was taken, the 26-year-old stated in Russian and Turkish, which he speaks, that he came to Greece for tourism and refused to say anything else, asking only to speak to a lawyer.

A case was filed against him for espionage, on the basis of which he is being taken to the Chania prosecutor.

The arrested person's digital media has been sent to forensic laboratories.