Six Bulgarian nationals have been sentenced to prison in the United Kingdom for participating in a Russian espionage ring that conducted surveillance operations targeting dissidents and journalists on British soil and elsewhere in Europe.
The case, heard at the Old Bailey in London, marks one of the most significant recent counter-intelligence operations involving Russian state interests in Europe.
The ringleader, Orlin Roussev, 47, who had earlier pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison. The court heard that Roussev directed six complex intelligence-gathering operations that posed a direct threat to UK national security and public safety. Mr Justice Hilliard, delivering the sentences, noted that Roussev’s actions were part of a “sophisticated conspiracy” involving foreign intelligence services.
Roussev’s deputy, Biser Dzhambazov, 44, also admitted his role and received a sentence of 10 years and two months. He was described as having directed operational activities for the group, which operated between 2020 and 2023. According to the court, both men were motivated primarily by financial gain, with payments totalling up to €1 million discussed during the operations.
Among the group were two women who acted as operatives engaging in what the prosecution described as “honeytrap” activities. Katrin Ivanova, 33, received a sentence of nine years and eight months. The court acknowledged that her involvement began after her association with Dzhambazov, but Justice Hilliard stated that she had made a deliberate choice to take part. Vanya Gaberova, 30, was sentenced to six years, eight months and three weeks. The judge noted her diagnosis of claustrophobia but found that she had knowingly engaged in espionage, reportedly finding the activity “exciting and glamorous”.
Two other men received lesser sentences based on their roles and cooperation with the investigation. Tihomir Ivanchev, 39, was sentenced to eight years, with the judge taking into account his cessation of involvement before the group’s arrest. Ivan Stoyanov, 33, who pleaded guilty at a later stage, was sentenced to five years and three weeks.
All six will be eligible for parole after serving half of their sentences and face automatic deportation to Bulgaria upon release.
The spy ring had been directed remotely by Jan Marsalek, an Austrian national who fled to Russia following the collapse of Wirecard, a German payment processing company implicated in a €1.9 billion fraud in 2020. Marsalek is currently wanted by German authorities and is believed to be operating from Moscow under the protection of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and military intelligence agency, the GRU.
From a guesthouse in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, the group carried out surveillance and intelligence activities. One of their known targets was Christo Grozev, a journalist involved in investigations into the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Surveillance was also conducted in Bulgaria, Austria, and Spain under Marsalek’s direction.
The group was further tasked with gathering intelligence on Ukrainian military personnel training at a United States barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. The court was told that Ivanova played a role in attempting to acquire mobile phone numbers of the soldiers using military-grade surveillance equipment.
Justice Hilliard highlighted the serious nature of the offences, stating that those targeted had experienced significant distress and had been forced to enhance their personal security. He further observed that the defendants were aware of Russia’s record of extreme measures against individuals it viewed as enemies of the state.
Following the sentencing, Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, said the group’s decision to plead guilty demonstrated the strength of the evidence gathered during a comprehensive investigation. “This case is a clear example of the increasing amount of state threat casework we are dealing with in the UK,” he said, noting that it illustrated how espionage is increasingly being “outsourced” by state actors.
Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, stated that the defendants had deliberately targeted individuals fleeing persecution and journalists critical of the Kremlin. He said the group’s actions undermined both UK national security and the country’s standing as a safe haven for those fleeing repression.
The convictions come amid wider concerns over state-sponsored espionage and influence operations across Europe. The use of non-official cover operatives and the outsourcing of intelligence-gathering activities to third-party nationals has complicated efforts by Western security services to track and counter foreign operations.
The sentencing marks the conclusion of a high-profile case that has highlighted both the operational reach of Russian intelligence networks and the challenges faced by UK authorities in confronting covert threats to national security. Further investigations into associated networks and individuals believed to be linked to Marsalek’s operations are ongoing.
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