In brief
A London jury has convicted three Bulgarians—Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova, and Tihomir Ivanchev—of espionage for Russia, as part of a notable investigation that unveiled extensive Russian surveillance operations in the U.K. and beyond.
The group, active from 2020 to 2023, was uncovered by British police and is believed to have targeted various individuals, including critics of the Russian government and journalists, as well as conducting operations near a U.S. military installation in Germany suspected of training Ukrainian soldiers. Orlin Roussev, the group's leader and a Bulgarian I.T. specialist, along with two other accomplices, had previously pleaded guilty to their charges. British authorities emphasized that these events reflect a worrying trend of espionage being delegated by state actors, particularly in relation to Russian activities. The three convicted individuals maintained that they were unaware of their employers’ true intentions, claiming deception by higher authorities within the organization. Sentencing for the group is set to take place in May, as officials highlight the complexity and sophistication of the espionage conducted in partnership with Russian state interests.
