The UK Crown Prosecution Service announced charges of espionage for Russia against five Bulgarian citizens Orlin Russev, Bizer Dzhambazov, Ivan Stoyanov, Katrin Ivanova and Vanya Gaberova.
The intelligence services believe that the five defendants conspired and, during the period from August 30, 2020 to February 8, 2023, collected information for Russia that could harm the security of Great Britain and its interests.
Earlier, in February 2023, Russev, Dzhambazov and Ivanova were also charged with possession of false documents — during a search they were found to have documents valid in the UK, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece and the Czech Republic. In August it became known that they were suspected of espionage, and then the Bulgarian citizens were arrested by the court. Later, other suspects appeared in the case.
As BBC News writes, the investigation believes that Russev coordinated the work and acted as a link in the collection of information. According to preliminary data, he could also be involved in the production of fake documents. According to the Dossier, Russev was the owner of a signal interception company and provided surveillance equipment to Russian intelligence informant Jan Marsalek.
Dzhambazov and Ivanova, according to their neighbors, were a couple. On LinkedIn, the man identifies himself as a car driver for medical organizations, and the woman identifies herself as a laboratory assistant for a private healthcare company. The couple also headed an organization that, among other things, introduced Bulgarians to “the culture and norms of British society.” BBS News reports that they worked for electoral commissions in London, organizing voting for Bulgarian citizens living abroad.
The five Bulgarians were being investigated by the Counter-Terrorism Directorate and their trial will begin on September 26 at Westminster Court .