Ashkelon Couple Charged with Spying for Iran in Exchange for Cryptocurrency

A couple from Ashkelon has been indicted for allegedly spying on behalf of Iranian agents in exchange for cryptocurrency payments. Tamerlan Amshukov, 26, and Alina Kushnirenko, 24, were charged with various crimes related to espionage, including contact with a foreign agent and providing information that could benefit the enemy.

The Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office launched an investigation in July after discovering a series of suspicious activities involving Amshukov and Kushnirenko. According to the indictment, they began working for Iranian agents in April and carried out surveillance missions across Israel, including in Ashdod, Beersheba, Haifa, and Kadima-Tzoran.

The couple allegedly used cryptocurrency payments worth approximately $4,450 to carry out their assignments, which included filming residential targets, documenting emergency exits at a mall in Tel Aviv, and tracking individuals whose photographs were sent to them by the handlers. Amshukov was also instructed to rent an apartment in Haifa and install cameras overlooking building entrances.

The pair received instructions from two handlers using Telegram profiles named 'Rafael' and 'Aslan.' The handlers proposed assignments that included recruiting taxi drivers to carry out missions, transferring money, and retrieving packages arriving by sea. Amshukov allegedly deleted most of his correspondence with the handler from his personal phone.