A Greek Air Force colonel accused of spying for China was ordered held in pretrial detention Tuesday after an eight-hour marathon testimony, in a case that has rattled NATO and raised alarms over Beijing’s infiltration of Western military networks.
Colonel Christos Flessas, 54, faces felony charges of transmitting classified military information to third parties.
Following his appearance before a military magistrate, he is expected to be transferred to a military detention facility in Corinth.
In a statement read by his lawyer, Vassilis Chirdaris, the officer admitted to the acts but claimed he was entrapped.
Mr. Flessas asserted he was initially approached for a legitimate post-retirement consulting role for Asian investors, only to be coerced into espionage during a trip to China in 2024.
“Unknowingly and without intent, I became involved in something that developed in a way that became nightmarish, dangerous and illegal,” the statement read.
He denied having any accomplices.
However, investigators paint a darker picture.
Authorities allege Mr. Flessas used specialized encryption software to transmit sensitive data on NATO systems and Greek defense technology.
Contradicting his “lone wolf” defense, state broadcaster ERT reported that intelligence services are hunting a “shadow figure”—a civilian woman believed to be his recruiter and a senior handler in the network.
Mr. Flessas, who served as a commander in a telecommunications training unit, was arrested Friday after a tip-off from the CIA alerted Greek intelligence to his encrypted communications. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.