The lengthy and tense case involving Russian spies operating on the territory of the United Kingdom with Bulgarian citizenship has concluded in London
The court’s decision brought an end to a large-scale operation that could have significantly undermined the country’s security. According to official reports, the court handed down harsh sentences to six Bulgarians believed to be agents of Russian intelligence, who over the past years engaged in espionage activities targeting British interests. The case's starting point was 47-year-old Orlin Rusev, who served as the leader of this espionage network. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years and 8 months in prison for participating in at least six operations aimed at gathering information that could threaten the national security of the Kingdom. Rusev operated covertly, infiltrating several key sites and institutions. Also in the spotlight was the deputy leader of the network — 44-year-old Biser Djammazov. He likewise admitted guilt and received a slightly shorter sentence of 10 years and 2 months incarceration. During the investigation, it was revealed that Djammazov was the person who recruited one of two women to carry out espionage tasks within this operation. 33-year-old Katerina Ivanova, one of the two women involved, received nearly nine and a half years of imprisonment. Having been recruited by Djammazov in the past, she operated on the brink of espionage, attempting to obtain valuable information for Russian intelligence. Another detainee, 30-year-old Vanya Gaberova, was sentenced to six and a half years — just over three weeks more. She performed functions similar to spying, trying to covertly access important data that could influence the country's security situation. In addition, 39-year-old Tihomir Ivanchev was sentenced to 8 years for similar activities, though the sentence took into account his good behavior and the fact that his involvement in the intelligence network had ceased before the first arrests in 2023. The court considered this fact when delivering the verdict. The sixth member of the group, 33-year-old Ivan Stoyanov, was sentenced to five years and a little over three weeks of imprisonment after admitting guilt. Although the court emphasized that his late confession to espionage was of limited significance, it still influenced the final severity of the sentence. The UK prosecution emphasizes that the activities of those detained were not limited to surveillance and information gathering alone. According to official data, their actions could have endangered lives — they monitored journalists, diplomats, and Ukrainian military personnel, raising further concerns about the scale and seriousness of this espionage operation. Earlier, international media outlets, including the BBC, identified two women believed to be participants in this network. It is worth noting that most of the participants remain at large, which adds to the concern. Journalists also reported that at least three Bulgarian nationals had previously been seen at several events in the British Parliament, including during the Brexit debate in 2016. This court decision highlights growing concern over the activity of foreign intelligence services in Europe, particularly in the UK, which despite high security levels and an advanced counterintelligence system, continues to face attempts at infiltration. Once again, this case confirms the conclusion that any action, even seemingly minor at first glance, can have far-reaching consequences for national security. It is expected that this court ruling will send a strong signal to other potential espionage networks and strengthen security measures to protect vital facilities and national interests both domestically and internationally.