Tel Aviv [Israel]: In a high-profile espionage case, Israeli prosecutors have indicted Dennis Liakhov, a 30-year-old resident of Rishon LeZion, on charges of collaborating with an Iranian agent during wartime, the Central District Court in Lod confirmed Sunday.
The charges include contact with a foreign agent and transmitting intelligence to an enemy during an active conflict, a serious offense under Israeli national security law.
According to the indictment filed by Prosecutor Assaf Harlofsky, Liakhov initiated contact with an Iranian operative via the encrypted messaging app Telegram while residing in Latvia, prior to returning to Israel. In exchange for digital payments, he was tasked with gathering intelligence inside Israel.
🔍 Espionage Activities:
The indictment outlines several assignments allegedly carried out by Liakhov:
- He was instructed to film a specific street and residential buildings in Petah Tikva and transmit both the footage and GPS data to the Iranian handler. Despite filming the wrong location, he was still compensated.
- In another mission, he was asked to visit a car dealership in Netanya, inquire about vehicle prices, and record the interaction. Though he failed to complete the assignment, he reportedly received payment regardless.
Prosecutors argue that these assignments, even when unsuccessful, constituted intelligence gathering for a hostile foreign power during an ongoing conflict. A “peace agreement” mentioned in their Telegram exchange is viewed by Israeli authorities as a superficial gesture, not mitigating the charges.
Liakhov has been remanded in custody as prosecutors seek to ensure he remains detained throughout the trial.
⚠️ Background:
The indictment comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran. On June 13, Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, citing credible intelligence that Tehran had crossed a critical threshold in its nuclear weapons development.
Israeli defense officials claim Iran now possesses:
- The capability to enrich uranium rapidly
- Fissile material for up to 15 nuclear bombs
- A covert program to assemble all components of a nuclear device
This marks a dramatic escalation in what Israeli officials describe as Iran’s strategy to combine nuclear proliferation with regional proxy warfare aimed at Israel’s annihilation.
A US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran was enacted last Tuesday following 12 days of hostilities, during which 28 Israelis were killed and over 3,000 injured due to Iranian missile attacks.
The espionage case against Liakhov highlights Israel’s ongoing challenges in defending against cyber-enabled intelligence breaches, especially during wartime. The outcome of this trial is being closely watched by national security observers and international allies.