In brief
A London jury has convicted three Bulgarians involved in a significant espionage operation for Russia, highlighting rising state threats in the U.K. The group conducted surveillance on journalists and U.S. military sites in Europe between 2020 and 2023.
In a significant legal development, a London jury has convicted three individuals from Bulgaria for their role in a notable Russian espionage operation across the United Kingdom and Europe. The group of six, led by Orlin Roussev, an I.T. specialist residing in Great Yarmouth, carried out extensive surveillance activities targeting journalists, critics of the Russian government, and U.S. military personnel in Germany.The three convicted members, Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova, and Tihomir Ivanchev—aged between 30 and 39—were found guilty following a three-year investigation by the Metropolitan Police. Prosecutors revealed that the operations occurred from 2020 to 2023, with the trio denying knowledge of their employers, asserting they had been misled.Before the trial, Roussev admitted to the charges, along with two other accomplices, Bizer Dzhambazov and Ivan Stoyanov. The trial underscored the increasing complexities of espionage, with authorities noting the phenomenon of states 'outsourcing' intelligence operations to external actors. Commander Dominic Murphy of the Counter Terrorism Command cautioned that such incidents reflect the growing number of espionage cases related to Russia in the U.K. The group is scheduled to face sentencing in May.
