In a landmark case, a London jury found three members of a Bulgarian espionage cell guilty of conducting surveillance operations for Russia. The group, led by Orlin Roussev, has been implicated in targeting journalists and critics of the Russian government from 2020 to 2023.
Three Bulgarians Convicted of Espionage for Russia in Europe
Three Bulgarians Convicted of Espionage for Russia in Europe
Three Bulgarians have been convicted in the UK for espionage activities linked to Russian state operations across Europe.
On March 7, 2025, a London jury delivered guilty verdicts against Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova, and Tihomir Ivanchev for their roles in one of the UK's largest espionage cases involving Russian operatives. The prosecution revealed that over a three-year span, the group engaged in surveillance activities not only against dissidents but also at a U.S. military training site in Germany suspected of hosting Ukrainian troops.
The investigation, conducted by the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, was described as an “extremely complex” operation that highlighted an alarming trend in which state espionage is being outsourced. Dominic Murphy, the head of the command, underscored the growing threat from Russia, stating, "This case is a clear example of the increasing amount of state threat casework we are dealing with in the U.K."
Orlin Roussev, the group's leader and an I.T. specialist, previously pleaded guilty, along with two other members, before the trial commenced. Each of the accused members denied the charges, claiming ignorance about their true affiliations or that they had been misled by higher authorities.
The sentencing for the group is set for May, and the revelations from this case are expected to have significant implications for international relations and security measures within the UK and broader Europe.
The investigation, conducted by the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, was described as an “extremely complex” operation that highlighted an alarming trend in which state espionage is being outsourced. Dominic Murphy, the head of the command, underscored the growing threat from Russia, stating, "This case is a clear example of the increasing amount of state threat casework we are dealing with in the U.K."
Orlin Roussev, the group's leader and an I.T. specialist, previously pleaded guilty, along with two other members, before the trial commenced. Each of the accused members denied the charges, claiming ignorance about their true affiliations or that they had been misled by higher authorities.
The sentencing for the group is set for May, and the revelations from this case are expected to have significant implications for international relations and security measures within the UK and broader Europe.
