A trial has commenced in London against a group of Bulgarian nationals accused of espionage for Russia. According to court documents, two of them have admitted their guilt. Source: Reuters
The main defendants in the case are three Bulgarians: Orlin Roussev, Bizer Djambazov, and Katrin Ivanova. According to British prosecutors, their activities were aimed at collecting information for use by Russian intelligence services. The spy network had been involved in six key operations During searches, the police found advanced surveillance devices, forged passports, and documents from various EU countries that were used for cover.
A team of Bulgarians conducted surveillance on a U.S. military base in Germany where Ukrainian forces were being trained—one of six operations they carried out as part of a spying conspiracy for Russia, prosecutors revealed to a London court.
Other alleged operations included monitoring Christo Grozev, a Bulgarian journalist working for the investigative website Bellingcat, who was the lead investigator on reports about the 2018 poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England.
During a hearing in November this year, the prosecution stated that Orlin Roussev and Bizer Djambazov admitted their involvement in a spy network acting in Russia’s interests.
The first arrests in this case occurred in February 2023. Five Bulgarians were detained on suspicion of espionage. The accused had lived in the United Kingdom for an extended period, working in various sectors, which enabled them to establish social connections and gain access to valuable information.
In August 2023, it became known that the accused were part of an exceptionally complex Russian spy network. They were reportedly operating under the direction of Roussev, who himself received instructions from Russian agent Marsalek, who used the alias Rupert Ticz. Marsalek, the former Chief Operating Officer of the defunct payments company Wirecard, is currently at large. His name has been repeatedly mentioned in the context of Russian espionage operations in Europe.
Russian intelligence activity in Europe has intensified significantly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. European nations view such cases as threats to national security. The exposure of Russian spies highlights the urgent need to bolster counterintelligence measures and enhance cooperation among EU and NATO countries.
The trial is ongoing, with the main hearings scheduled for 2025. This case could set a significant precedent in the fight against Russian spy networks in Europe. The United Kingdom has already implemented several measures to identify potential influence agents.
The exposure of this spy network underscores Russia’s subversive activities, its attempts to destabilize Western countries, and its interference in their internal affairs. The case serves as a warning for European states about the necessity of strengthening security measures and combating hybrid threats, which Russia actively employs as a tool of foreign policy.
