Key facts
- Ioannis Aidinidis, 46, was born in Georgia and lived in Munich, Germany, at the time of his arrest.
- Police previously said Aidinidis' actions were believed to be on behalf of Iran.
- Prosecutors said Aidinidis travelled to Britain twice, in April and in May, to surveil a journalist for Iran International.
- Iran International is a London-based television station that is critical of Iran's government.
- Tehran has repeatedly denied involvement in attacks or plots in Britain.
Ioannis Aidinidis, 46, appeared in a London court on November 6, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to carrying out surveillance on behalf of a foreign intelligence service on a journalist working for the London-based television station Iran International, Reuters reported.
Aidinidis was born in Georgia and lived in Munich, Germany, at the time of his arrest. He was charged in May under Britain's National Security Act and was remanded in custody ahead of his trial in May next year.
Police previously said Aidinidis' actions were believed to be on behalf of Iran. Prosecutors said at his first court appearance that he had travelled to Britain twice, in April and in May, to carry out surveillance of a journalist for Iran International, which is critical of Iran's government. Tehran has repeatedly denied involvement in attacks or plots in Britain.