Tel Aviv, Israel – The Tel Aviv District Court formally charged a couple, Tamerlan Amshukov (26) and Alina Kushnirenko (24), both from Ashkelon, with serious espionage. The charges stem from their alleged involvement in gathering intelligence for Iranian entities in exchange for money and cryptocurrency rewards.
Details of the spy network and information gathering
According to the Israeli news site Ynet, the couple worked systematically and regularly between April and July 2026. Their intelligence activities included monitoring and documenting various vital sites throughout Israel. These sites included private residences of individuals belonging to the security and military services. In addition, they monitored sensitive civilian and military infrastructure.
The indictment filed by the Public Prosecution revealed that the defendants handed over this precise data and sensitive information to an Iranian intelligence officer and foreign entities via the Telegram messaging application. In return, they received agreed-upon sums of money, part of which was transferred through cryptocurrency networks. This was done to conceal the flow of funds.
Intelligence targets and sensitive monitoring sites
Investigations and court documents revealed that the couple’s target bank included monitoring data and information on an employee working at a sensitive security factory. It also included information on a senior member of the Israeli security forces. Their espionage activities also extended to monitoring and photographing the strategic port of Eilat in the far south. Additionally, they documented vital sites in the Mount Herzl area of Jerusalem, the economic and political capital.
This case is part of a series of rapidly unfolding security cases announced by Israeli authorities. These cases aim to uncover local spy networks recruited by Iranian intelligence online. As a result, there are growing security concerns within Tel Aviv’s intelligence agencies regarding the infiltration of communities and local society for the purpose of gathering military and operational intelligence.
