The Shin Bet and police say they have arrested an Israeli citizen suspected of spying on former prime minister Naftali Bennett on behalf of Iranian interests.
Prosecutors will indict 40-year-old Vadim Kupriyanov, a resident of Rishon Lezion, on espionage charges today in the Lod District Court.
He was detained this month after being seen taking pictures outside Bennett’s residence in Ra’anana. He used a car camera to carry out the task, police say.
He had been in contact with his Iranian handler for two months, and like most of the Israeli citizens recruited to spy for Iran, had carried out a range of security-related tasks in exchange for money.
Responding to the news, Bennett says: “Iran’s efforts to harm me will not stop me in my life’s mission.”
The former premier was targeted earlier this month by Iran-linked hackers, who managed to break into his Telegram account and access his contacts and chats on the messaging app.
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