Charges Filed in UK Against Three Bulgarians Allegedly Involved in Russian Espionage

 

A group apprehended in February following a counter-terrorism inquiry are alleged to have been operating on behalf of Moscow's security agencies, as per a BBC report.

Three Bulgarian citizens, who were under suspicion for engaging in espionage on behalf of Russia while residing in the United Kingdom, have been apprehended and formally charged, according to authorities. The individuals in question were among a group of five individuals taken into custody during the month of February as a result of an extensive ongoing counter-terrorism investigation. Subsequently, three of the detainees were formally charged with the possession of counterfeit identity documents intended for illicit purposes. This information was conveyed by the Metropolitan Police, the agency overseeing cases of espionage. In line with information from the BBC, these individuals are alleged to have been operatives for Russia's security agencies, operating within what appears to be an undercover cell. It is reported that they were in possession of passports and identification cards from various countries, including Bulgaria, France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, and the Czech Republic.

The individuals facing charges, who were apprehended under the Official Secrets Act by counter-terrorism law enforcement, are alleged to have possessed forged documents knowingly and with intentions that are considered inappropriate. The trio implicated in the alleged espionage activities are identified as Orlin Roussev, aged 45, hailing from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk; Bizer Dzhambazov, aged 41, residing in Harrow, north-west London; and Katrin Ivanova, aged 31, sharing the same Harrow residence. These three individuals had been residing in the United Kingdom for a number of years, engaging in various occupations, and dwelling in a series of suburban residences, as reported by the BBC. According to the same source, it is noted that Roussev had a history of business involvements with Russia. Having relocated to the UK in 2009, he spent three years working in a technical capacity within the financial services sector. Interestingly, his LinkedIn profile lacks a photograph. Roussev's self-declared role is the owner of NewGenTech Ltd, a company specializing in areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced indexing systems and algorithms, advanced communication systems, RF and high-frequency technologies, and signals processing. He also indicates having previously advised Bulgaria's energy ministry and has recently taken up residence at a seaside guesthouse in Great Yarmouth. Dzhambazov's occupation is cited as a driver for hospitals. On his Facebook page, there is an absence of friends and the content mainly consists of innocuous videos. Ivanova portrays herself on her LinkedIn profile as a laboratory assistant employed by a private health enterprise.

The couple, who relocated to the United Kingdom approximately ten years ago, managed a community organization that offered services to Bulgarians, including acquainting them with the "culture and norms of British society," as reported by the BBC. As indicated by online Bulgarian state records, they were also engaged in employment for electoral commissions in London, which facilitate voting in Bulgarian elections for citizens residing overseas. The trial for the three accused individuals is scheduled to take place at the Old Bailey in London in January. Currently, they have not yet entered pleas in response to the charges. In recent times, Russian intelligence operatives have been implicated in various high-profile schemes, including the assassination of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 and the attempted murder of Russian defector Sergei Skripal in 2018. All three of Russia's intelligence agencies have been involved in operations within the UK. These encompass the Federal Security Service (FSB), previously led by Vladimir Putin before his tenure as prime minister and president; the Russian military intelligence agency known as the GRU or GU; and the foreign intelligence service SVR. The British government has previously expelled numerous Russian diplomats functioning at the embassy in Kensington under the guise of diplomatic cover.