British Court Convicts Bulgarian Citizens for Russian Espionage

The Central Criminal Court in London has found three Bulgarian citizens guilty of spying for Russia and preparing international provocations, including against Kazakhstan, Orda.kz reports.

According to Bloomberg, the court convicted Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova, and Tikhomir Ivanchev of gathering sensitive information for Russian intelligence between 2020-2023. Three additional accomplices — Orlin Rusev, Biser Dzhambazov, and Ivan Stoyanov — had previously admitted to espionage charges.

The three-month trial revealed that the Bulgarians had established a network for conducting sophisticated intelligence operations across the UK and Europe. Their activities were coordinated by Jan Marsalek, the former Wirecard executive who disappeared following the company's financial scandal and bankruptcy.

The group's plans included staging provocations against Kazakhstan, such as organizing a fake protest near the Kazakh embassy in Britain and plotting against Bergey Ryskaliyev, the former Atyrau region governor who fled to London while facing embezzlement charges.

According to Bloomberg, Marsalek provided Ivanova, Gaberova, and Ivanchev with finances to conduct surveillance on a former Kazakh politician in London.

Marsalek reportedly allocated approximately £45,000 to the spy network, though they ultimately failed to execute any planned provocations against Kazakhstan.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny