Ashkelon Couple Charged with Spying for Iran in Cryptocurrency Scheme
Tamirlan Amshukov and Elina Kushnirenko, residents of Ashkelon, have been indicted in the Tel Aviv District Court on charges of contacting a foreign agent and providing information to an enemy state. The indictment outlines a series of events that began in December 2025 when Amshukov was approached via Telegram by an individual who offered payment for photographing a restaurant in Ashdod. Kushnirenko advised against the task, expressing concern about potential risks.
In April 2026, communication resumed through a Telegram handler who proposed payment in cryptocurrency for surveillance and photography tasks. Amshukov accepted the offer and enlisted Kushnirenko's help. The couple reportedly conducted surveillance in Ashdod, Be'er Sheva, Haifa, and Kadima-Zoran, attempting to document the residences of a defense industry employee and a member of the security forces.
By June 2026, they had allegedly documented the Ramat Aviv Mall in Tel Aviv, identifying areas lacking security cameras. They also photographed a security facility in Dimona and captured images of the coastline and ships while traveling to Eilat. A dedicated operational phone was purchased with funds from their handler.
In early July 2026, Amshukov took photographs of Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, including IDF soldiers, just days before a state memorial ceremony attended by high-ranking officials. Although additional assignments were proposed, such as renting an apartment and retrieving a package from the sea, these were not executed.
Later in 2026, while en route to another mission in Be'er Sheva, the couple was apprehended by Israeli security forces. The indictment states they received a total of $4,451.70 in cryptocurrency for the information provided prior to their arrest.
