Espionage scandal in London: Six Bulgarians convicted, Marsalek involved!

Espionage scandal in London: Six Bulgarians convicted, Marsalek involved!

Six Bulgarians were recently convicted in Britain of spying for Russia. A London court, the Old Bailey, handed down prison sentences ranging from five to more than ten years. The group is said to have worked with Jan Marsalek, the ex-Wirecard manager who went into hiding and is considered a liaison to the Russian secret service. This represents one of the largest and most complex espionage operations on British soil.

The convicted are Katrin Ivanova (33), Vanya Gaberova (30), Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev (39), Orlin Roussev (47), Biser Dzhambazov (44) and Ivan Stoyanov (33). These men and women spied against opposition figures and journalists in countries such as Germany, Great Britain, Austria and Montenegro. London police described the cell as a “real threat” to national security.

Espionage operation details

The group's activities spanned a period of three years. Dominic Murphy, head of London police's counter-terrorism unit, described their approach as reminiscent of a "spy novel". In a particularly bizarre plan, the group wanted to use a drone to pour pig's blood on the Kazakh embassy in London. The condemnation of Roussev's group was supported by communications between Marsalek and Roussev in April 2021, in which Marsalek allegedly offered to provide "nukes" if he was paid.

Victim reports were also submitted as part of the trial. Journalist Christo Grozev described the surveillance he was subjected to as “frightening, disorienting and deeply destabilizing.” Another dissident, Bergey Ryskaliyev, expressed continued concern for his safety despite the group's arrest and said he had to take private security measures.

Connections and further developments

The group's surveillance and operations targeted various targets, endangering the lives of many. The espionage targets also included prominent figures, with the network nicknamed “Minions” among operatives due to their way of working. Searches at Roussev's hotel found specialized spyware, including devices hidden in everyday objects.

Jan Marsalek, who is wanted by Interpol, planned to diversify his methods while he was on the run. Among other things, he expressed a desire to create a porn website focused on Russians and criticized Roman Abramovich for leaving Russia and selling his assets. The sentences following the activities carried out could result in a prison sentence of up to 14 years for the defendants.

The convictions and revelations of this espionage operation shine a bright light on the secret activities behind the scenes and the dangers posed to journalists and opposition figures in Europe. t-online.de reports on the connections to Marsalek, while independent.co.uk further aspects of the developments surrounding this case are explained.