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A UK-based spy ring gathering intelligence for Russia had links to the “highest echelons” of the Bulgarian government, prosecutors said on Wednesday.
Biser Dzhambazov, 43, told Orlin Roussev, 46, that his relationship with several Bulgarian politicians — such as President Rumen Radev, former deputy prime minister Korneliya Ninova and National Assembly member Boyko Rashkov — was “iron clad”, prosecutors said.
The pair have both pleaded guilty to conspiring to spy on behalf of Russia.
The allegations come from the trial of three Bulgarians — Katrin Ivanova, 33, Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanchev, 39 — who have been charged with conspiracy to spy in a ring that prosecutors say was overseen by former Wirecard chief operating officer Jan Marsalek.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC told the jury at the Old Bailey court in London that the pair were “gleeful” about the outcome of Bulgaria’s November 2021 general election, which the incumbent Radev won, and “could not wait to get started on exploiting those connections”.
In December 2021, Dzhambazov told Roussev that they had to “work out . . . what we want and what we offer” to the Bulgarian government, adding “I’m sure they won’t let us down”. Roussev replied: “I have a long list.”
The claims came during the cross-examination of Ivanova, who denies a charge of conspiracy to spy and possessing false identity documents with improper intent.
Ivanova has said that she was deceived by Dzhambazov, her partner of 10 years, into taking part in six operations across Europe.
These include following and spying on the Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev — who uncovered Russian links to the 2018 Salisbury attack — to supposedly expose his alleged corruption and links to arms dealers.
Morgan asked why Ivanova had not mentioned her concerns about Grozev to officials at the embassy.
The court also heard how Ivanova, Dzhambazov and Gaberova volunteered to help with expat voting in the UK during the 2021 Bulgarian elections — yet Ivanova claimed when questioned not to be able to name the Bulgarian president.
She said her involvement in the election was motivated by a desire to help people “have their voice”, and repeatedly claimed not to know Radev’s name. Morgan attributed this to Ivanova “know[ing] their name features in a pocket of the evidence of this case”.
Morgan asked her: “Did it ever occur to you that you are the corruption?” She added to Ivanova: “When you were going through this process, it is inconceivable that [Dzhambazov] did not mention to you the connections he had to the Bulgarian government.”
The trial continues.
