Yet another case of espionage in Greece seems to have taken a long time to be noticed by the “radar” of the EYP. After the Russian spy with the pseudonym “Maria Tsala” in Pagrati, who operated in our country for five years with forged documents, the actions of a couple in Halkidiki who also led a double life were revealed. In particular, the Russian couple Nikolai Sapoznikov and Elena Sapoznikova, who ran a hotel in Halkidiki, were allegedly involved in bloody bombings of ammunition depots in the Czech Republic, while using their hotel as a hideout for agents of the Russian GRU military espionage unit. Villa Elena for the pampered holidaymaker was a pleasant family hotel in Frama, Halkidiki with an outdoor pool, a large garden and a relatively affordable price. But as revealed by the Russian investigative journalism website The Insider, which has been outlawed by the Kremlin, it functioned as a den for Russian spies who carried out deadly attacks in the Czech Republic.
In fact, after an investigation by the Czech security services, it was found that the unit codenamed “29155” of the secret service of the Russian army was behind two explosions at the weapons and ammunition warehouses in Vrebitice in 2014, where two people were killed. The explosive devices were said to have been planted by Alexander Myskin and Anatoly Chepigawho were charged with the attempted poisoning of the Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia in Salisbury, Britain in 2018, who were allegedly helped by the Sapoznikovs to gain access to the warehouses.
According to information, at the request of the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, the Greek authorities investigated Nikolai, who recently passed away, and Elena. In 2023 the Czech authorities requested the extradition of the Sapoznikovs from Greece, however the couple seem to have managed to go unnoticed for 15 years, having bought Villa Elena in 2009, moving there a year later. The investigation showed that they belonged to the Russian secret service “29155”, which usually involves agents who, by presenting a “normal life” in Western countries, provoke events with the aim of destabilizing the opponents of the Kremlin.
Drew attention
Nikolai, who previously lived in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, came to the attention of Czech investigators because of his role at Imex, an arms company set up to service European militaries still using Soviet-era hardware. He was accused of causing explosions in the factory where he worked. Their son Pavelwho was once a member of the Czech Pirate Party, also worked for the company.
The family is said to have gathered intelligence and recruited others on behalf of Moscow. Elena has received from him Vladimir Putin the award of Hero of the Russian Federation, the country’s highest military award, following sabotage operations in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.
As one of the mandates of the agents of “29155” is to commit murders with nerve agents, questions have been raised about the action of the two hoteliers. However, it is not known if the couple in question has done something like this. The Greek authorities concluded that the Sapoznikovs were not operating in Greece.
The sudden death
Nikolai died suddenly last February. With the announcement of the news, Western agencies considered that his death could not be attributed to natural causes. Although he officially suffered a cardiac arrest, his case was taken over by the State Security of Polygyros Halkidiki.
In his death certificate, issued by a private doctor in Thessaloniki, dated March 1, 2024, the cause is listed as cardiac arrest. The investigation into the circumstances of his death in Greece has not been formally closed, even if all indications point to natural causes. As for his widow, the information indicates that she may have fled to the Czech Republic while the verdict of the Greek authorities against her is still awaited.
Meanwhile, the accommodation had never been registered with the Halkidiki Hotel Association nor does it have a tourist badge. Nevertheless, it was available on all short-term accommodation platforms until 2020.
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