A woman accused of spying for Russia at the Old Bailey has claimed she believed she was assisting Interpol during surveillance activities across Europe. Vanya Gaberova, who ran a beauty salon called Pretty Woman, outlined to the court how she fell under the spell of the alleged ringleader, Biser Dzhambazov, who misled her about the nature of their operations. Together with fellow defendants Tihomir Ivanchev and Katrin Ivanova, Gaberova denies charges of conspiracy to spy for Russia.
Addressing the court, the 30-year-old Gabriella recounted her first meeting with Dzhambazov, which took place during the Bulgarian national elections when she was volunteering at a polling station. "I met him during the elections and we struck up quite the friendship," she said. Gaberova described Dzhambazov as charming and charismatic, imbued with the very essence of someone who would likely capture the attention of others. "He was very loud. He liked attention, he was the soul of the gathering," she noted, emphasizing the allure he had over her and others.
According to the evidence presented, Dzhambazov, 43, convinced Gaberova he could help her achieve her life dream of becoming a police officer, claiming connections to Interpol. "He told me there was a police school in Wembley, and he could help me get there," she expressed, still baffled at his audacity. During their relationship, she was persuaded to join him on missions under the guise of Interpol operations.
The court heard how co-defendant Dzhambazov allegedly showed Gaberova fake ID cards bearing his identity, which he claimed were official Interpol credentials. Gabriella recalled on the witness stand, "I was on video call with my sister, and he put his badge on the phone to her. I never doubted it, even when arrested. I thought it was all real." The deception seems to have run deep, with her saying she was convinced they were engaged in valid police work.
Her testimony uncovered how Dzhambazov took her on trips, primarily to monitor investigative journalist Christo Grozev, who had revelations about Russian state activities. These trips spanned cities like Vienna and Valencia, where the couple enjoyed what Gaberova termed "holidays." "We never followed him [Grozev]. We saw him only at breakfast," she insisted, contesting the prosecution's characterization of her involvement.
Despite their intimate relationship, Gaberova insists she was unaware of the conspiratorial nature of Dzhambazov's activities. Under cross-examination, she described their travels together and how he labeled their missions as work. Gaberova remembered fondly their days on the beach and moments where Dzhambazov professed feelings for her, stating: "He told me he liked me; it was more like sympathy at first, but yes, I eventually fell for him."
Prosecution has painted Dzhambazov as leading several surveillance operations targeting Grozev, alleging he was under scrutiny for exposing Russian espionage. Gaberova recounted, "He said Grozev was corrupt and it was our job to follow him; we must see everything he did." Her story came to light during the tribunal as jurors were informed about the complexity of the case and the twisted relationships involved.
Further complicity arose with the inclusion of other defendants, Orlin Roussev and Katrin Ivanova, who have pleaded guilty earlier to part of the conspiracy. They, too, were entrenched within this web of deception, unlike Gaberova, who continued to profess her ignorance about the espionage activities. "I never followed anyone. I didn’t meet Roussev or Ivanova before our arrests, and I would do anything for police credentials—they meant the world to me," Gaberova attested passionately.
Gaberova discussed the emotional turmoil she felt during her time with Dzhambazov as her relationship with Ivanchev deteriorated around the same period. "He made me believe Ivanova was cheating on him. I was under the impression he would help me through my dreams and more." The testimony presented by Gaberova reveals her heart's turbulence mixed with the deception perpetrated by Dzhambazov.
Initially lured by promises of police work and companionship, Vanya Gaberova stood firmly by her claim of being led astray and urges jurors to see her not as part of the espionage plot but as another victim of Dzhambazov's manipulation. The trial continues to unravel the layers of deceit, relationships, and motives among the four defendants, each entangled within the saga of alleged Russian espionage.