Six Bulgarians have been imprisoned for spying on the enemies of Vladimir Putin de Russia in the United Kingdom and beyond.
Duration A legitimate trial, Old Bailey heard that the ring was generously paid for its services, including espionage to two journalists who had exhibited attacks of nerve agents against Russian dissidents Alexei Navalny and Sergei Skripal.
On Monday, the leader Orlin Roussev was imprisoned for 10 years and eight months for the position of conspiracy to spy. His second in command, Biser Dzhambazov, was sentenced to 10 years and two months.
Katrin Ivanova, partner of Dzhambazov, was imprisoned for nine and eight months by Judge Justice Hilliard. Three others were imprisoned for between eight and six years.
Their names are Tihomir Vivanche, Ivan Stoyanov and Vanya Gaberova.
The trial heard that the gang had carried out operations in the United Kingdom, Austria, Spain, Germany and Montenegro.
They went to research journalists Christo Grozev and Roman Debrokhotov, as well as Russian dissidents and political figures.
The case against him, which has been described as “one of the largest foreign intelligence operations” in the United Kingdom, focused on six of his tasks.
For the first time in a Criminal Court of the United Kingdom, the internal functioning of a Russian operational spy cell was presented in thousands of surveillance messages of the organization, photos and videos of its objectives, and talk about plans to kidnap and kill.
The evidence presented to the court this week revealed new details about Jan Marsalek, the Russian intelligence services controller.
Marsalek, an Austrian, is currently underway and is sought in Germany for alleged fraud linked to the Wirecard Financial Services Company.
The spy ring referred to themselves as the “minions”, inspired by the yellow companions of the Villano Gru in the film franchise of despicable children.
The group also frequently referred to the Russian Gru, its military intelligence service, in telegram messages.
Police raided Norfolk’s guest house that housed the operation in 2023 and found a “treasure” of devices, including a Cudly Minion toy telling a camera.
Ivanova, Gaberova and Ivonchev were convicted of conspiracy to spy on Russia on March 7. Roussev, Dzhambazov and Stoyanov declared themselves previously guilty.
In the sentence, Mr. Justice Hilliard highlighted Dzhambazov as the boss, but said that everyone was “motivated by money” – “substantial” sums of up to € 1m (£ 840,000) were discussed by the gang, which demonstrates the “value” or its undercover undercover undercover.
Mr. Justice Hilliard said that using the United Kingdom as a basis for planning espionage operations was a “very serious crime” that “undermines the position of this country with the allies.”
“Point to journalists … He undermines freedom of the press, one of our central democratic values,” he added.
Roussev received the order to pay an order of confiscation of £ 180,768 in bad profits obtained in August 2025.
The sentenced from Gaberova was reduced to six years, eight months and three weeks after mitigation.
His defense lawyer Anthony Withzer KC said that Gaberova, 30, was “controlled, coerced in this conspiracy by Mr. Dzhambazov”, who was a lover and was also involved with Ivanova.
The Court was told that Gaberova had been diagnosed with depression, panic disorder, claustrophobia and anxiety.
The conspiracy to spy carries a maximum sentence of 14 years, but Roussev, Dzhambazov and Stoyanov received some credit for their guilt statements.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the MET terrorism command, said the case was “a clear example” of the growing threat of state espionage.
He added that it is also “highlights a relatively new phenomenon, Weby’s espionage is being ‘subcontracted’ by certain states.”
