UK Court Convicts Bulgarian Spy Ring for Espionage

A UK-based Russian spy ring, involving Bulgarian nationals, has been found guilty of espionage after a complex investigation by the Metropolitan Police. The group, including Vanya Gaberova, Katrin Ivanova, and Tihomir Ivanchev, was convicted of conducting surveillance on Russian dissidents and plotting serious offenses, including kidnapping and murder, over three years. They were part of a larger operation orchestrated by Orlin Roussev and Jan Marsalek, which involved sophisticated surveillance equipment and tactics, including the use of 'honeytrap' strategies. The ring targeted various individuals, including investigative journalists and military personnel, and posed threats to numerous lives. Scotland Yard emphasized that this case reflects a trend where state-sponsored espionage is increasingly being outsourced to criminal gangs. Sentencing for the defendants is scheduled for May 2024.