In a dramatic courtroom scene at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, five individuals accused of involvement in a Russian spy ring operating in the United Kingdom made their first appearance. The suspects, all Bulgarian nationals, were named as Orlin Roussev, Bizer Dzhambazov, Katrin Ivanova, Ivan Stoyanov, and Vanya Gaberova. They stand accused of conspiring to gather sensitive information beneficial to a foreign adversary.

The alleged espionage activities spanned from August 2020 to February 2023 and are said to have involved extensive surveillance operations on individuals and locations targeted by Russia. These activities are believed to have supported potential hostile actions, including abductions.

During the court proceedings, the five defendants remained silent, except for confirming their names and dates of birth. They did not enter pleas and were remanded in custody. All five appeared in court via video link from separate prisons.

The arrests were carried out by Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism officers in February, with charges filed under the Official Secrets Act. The accused individuals are as follows:

– Orlin Roussev, 45, residing in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

– Bizer Dzhambazov, 41, residing in Harrow, north-west London

– Katrin Ivanova, 31, residing at the same Harrow address

– Ivan Stoyanov, 31, hailing from Greenford, west London

– Vanya Gaberova, 29, residing in Churchway, north-west London

The prosecutor, Kathryn Selby, described the property of Mr. Roussev as the “operating hub” for the alleged espionage activities in the UK. His residence, a now-closed seaside guesthouse in Great Yarmouth, is alleged to have been central to organising and managing the spying operations that occurred both in the UK and across Europe.

One of the accused, Ivan Stoyanov, has a background in amateur mixed martial arts and has previously participated in combat sambo fights in Bulgaria, a martial art popular in Eastern Europe.

Notably, the five defendants are believed to have conspired with an individual referred to as “Jan Marsalek,” who is not charged in the case. Marsalek is known as the former chief operating officer of the Austrian company Wirecard and is a fugitive wanted in Germany for suspected fraud. It is claimed that Mr. Roussev received instructions from Marsalek, who is now reportedly in Russia after fleeing via Belarus.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram announced that the five accused would appear at the Old Bailey on October 13, 2023.