Bulgarian Citizens Convicted of Espionage in the UK
Three Bulgarian citizens living in the UK have been found guilty of spying on behalf of Russia, according to reports in the country’s press. The trio, consisting of 33-year-old laboratory technician Katrin Ivanova, 30-year-old beauty expert Vanya Gaberova, and 39-year-old painter and decorator Ivanchev, were involved in a series of conspiracy activities in Europe.
The verdict was reached at the Old Bailey court in London, where the jury unanimously decided on the guilt of the three individuals. They were reported to be part of a group that included journalists, a former politician, and individuals who observed a US military base in Germany.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan stated, “By collecting and forwarding this information to the Russian state, the defendants have undoubtedly put many lives at risk.”
The defendants will remain in custody until the final decision is announced on May 7-12.
The police investigation seized a large number of devices, describing the incident as one of the largest external intelligence operations in the UK. The three Bulgarians were arrested in February 2024 by London Metropolitan Police under suspicion of breaching the Official Secrets Law and conspiring to spy.
Additionally, 47-year-old Orlin Roussev and 43-year-old Biser Dzhambazov had previously confessed to espionage charges, while 34-year-old Ivan Stoyanov admitted to spying before the hearing.
During the investigation, authorities confiscated 221 mobile phones, 495 sim cards, 11 drones, and devices used to monitor Wi-Fi activities.
