Five Bulgarian citizens, accused of spying for Russia, made a virtual appearance in a London court on Tuesday, facing formal charges related to espionage activities.
This preliminary hearing took place at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and followed an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s counterterrorism command, which also addresses cases involving official secrets.
Who Has Been Charged? The five individuals facing charges are as follows:
- Orlin Roussev, 45, who had been residing in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.
- Bizer Dzhambazov, 41, and Katrin Ivanova, 31, who were both living in Harrow, northwest London.
- Ivan Stoyanov, 31, from Greenford, west London.
- Vanya Gaberova, 29, from Churchway, northwest London.
Due to ongoing criminal proceedings, the reporting restrictions in the UK are stringent, with an official warning against any reporting, commentary, or online sharing that could potentially prejudice the case.
What Are the Charges? The five defendants are facing charges related to conspiracy to conduct espionage. Specifically, they are accused of conspiring to gather information intended to be directly or indirectly beneficial to an enemy, with intentions prejudicial to the safety and interests of the state. The alleged spying activities spanned over two years, from August 30, 2020, to February 8, 2023.
Additionally, Mr. Roussev, Mr. Dzhambazov, and Ms. Ivanova were previously charged on February 11 with possession of false identity documents.
Highlights from the Hearing: During the court hearing, Prosecutor Kathryn Selby revealed that the central hub for espionage operations within the UK was located at Mr. Roussev’s address—a seaside guesthouse in Great Yarmouth. Prosecutors assert that the spying operations orchestrated by this group occurred both in the UK and continental Europe.
Ms. Selby stated, “All five are suspected of being part of an organized network of U.K.-based Bulgarian nationals conducting surveillance and other information-gathering activities against several locations and individuals on behalf of the Russian state.”
These five defendants are accused of conspiring with Jan Marsalek, who has not been charged in this case. Mr. Marsalek, the former COO of the German payments company Wirecard, is wanted for extensive fraud offenses and has been the subject of an Interpol “red notice” since he went into hiding following the company’s collapse in 2020. Some reports suggest he may have sought refuge in Belarus or Russia.
What Happens Next? The defendants did not enter a plea during the hearing. District Judge Tan Ikram decided that they should remain in custody until their trial.
With such serious charges, the appearance in a magistrates’ court marks the initial step, and the case will now be transferred to a higher court. The next scheduled appearance for the defendants will be at the Old Bailey, London’s central criminal court, on October 13.
If found guilty of espionage, the maximum sentence for the accused could be 14 years in prison, according to the Crown Prosecution Service, which opted to proceed with the charges.