Three Bulgarian nationals are currently on trial at the Old Bailey, facing serious charges of conspiracy to spy for Russia. The accused—Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova, and Tihomir Ivanchev—were allegedly involved in espionage activities directed at various individuals deemed of interest by the Russian government.
Katrin Ivanova, 33, took the stand and claimed she believed her actions were part of legitimate operations getting rid of financial criminals. She recounted her involvement with Biser Dzhambazov, her partner, who purportedly told her they were searching for Kiril Kachur, described as a fugitive wanted by Interpol. "I'm looking for the bad man who stole a lot of money from people in Russia," she stated, reinforcing her belief at the time.
Another defendant, Vanya Gaberova, 30, also defended her actions by asserting she thought she was assisting with police work rather than engaging in espionage. During her testimony, she revealed how Dzhambazov displayed fake Interpol identification cards and badges, convincing her of their legitimacy. Gaberova expressed her long-held dream of becoming a police officer, which she believed Dzhambazov could help her achieve.
Gaberova recounted, "It had always been my dream to become a police officer," indicating her naivety about the operation they were involved with. Her relationship with Ivanchev had soured, leaving her increasingly close to Dzhambazov, who promised her opportunities. She acknowledged falling for him during their supposed operations, leaning on Dzhambazov's claims of police work. Regardless, Gaberova denied any active involvement with spying on investigative journalist Christo Grozev and emphasized her belief they were mainly enjoying leisure activities under the guise of work.
Despite the laughter and seaside traces of love portrayed by Gaberova, prosecutor Alison Morgan was quick to challenge the defendants' narratives. Queries posed to Ivanova sought to expose the deception behind their proclaimed innocence. Morgan's questioning revealed patterns of manipulation, with Ivanova admitting she felt betrayed by Dzhambazov, whom she described as "deceitful and dishonest."
On the stand, Ivanova noted the key target of their espionage: Christo Grozev, who had investigated the 2018 Novichok attack on British soil. "The purpose of surveillance was to prove he was a hypocrite by following him," she elaborated. This targeting raised serious questions about how well the defendants understood the operations they were allegedly involved with, with Morgan pushing the notion they should have been aware of the risks.
Refuting intelligence and deception, Ivanova stated, "I wasn't interested in politics, Russian agents, Novichok" until she faced her arrest, showcasing the depth of confusion she had about her operations. The focus shifted to her admission of not knowing about false passports discovered during police investigations of her shared property with Dzhambazov, leaving her credibility under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, both Roussev and Dzhambazov had already pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy to spy, leading to significant attention surrounding the trio's continued assertions of innocence. Their defense hinged largely on claims of deception from Dzhambazov, tricking them under the auspices of legitimate work.
During her testimony, Gaberova sought to distance herself from the spy network, stating, "I never had any contact with Orlin Roussev," which suggests she thought she was merely caught up with Dzhambazov's motivations rather than functioning as part of any intelligence operation.
This case is significant not only for the individuals involved but raises broader national security concerns about foreign espionage activities on British soil. It highlights the challenges and dangers posed by deceptive practices within the world of international relations and the intelligence community. With the trial continuing, the ramifications of these revelations could serve as cautionary tales about the blurred lines between acceptable law enforcement activities and dangerous espionage efforts.