The UK-based group of Bulgarians accused of spying for Russia had ties to the “highest echelons“ of the Bulgarian government, it became clear during a hearing today in a London court, PA Media/DPA reported, BTA reports.
Thirty-three-year-old Katrin Ivanova and two other defendants are facing trial on charges that they were part of a group of Bulgarians who spied on locations and people in favor of Russia.
Ivanova's partner – Biser Dzhambazov, 43, of North London, and Orlin Rusev, 46, have already admitted being part of the three-year espionage plot.
Ivanova claims she was misled, controlled and deceived by Dzhambazov and believed she was exposing “corruption” when she followed investigative journalist Hristo Grozev around Europe.
During cross-examination today, prosecutor Alison Morgan suggested Ivanova was “corrupt“ and “a key servant“ of the spy ring, whose partner had links to the Bulgarian government.
The court heard how Ivanova, Dzhambazov and another defendant – Vanya Gaberova, helped in the 2021 presidential election, won by President Rumen Radev.
Ivanova told the court that someone from the Bulgarian embassy in London contacted her to help her sign a protocol with the counted votes and specified that she never shared her concerns about corruption with the authorities.
Prosecutor Morgan asked: “Now that you think about it and knowing that you are a dishonest person, do you think you should have signed this document with the counted votes for the Bulgarian elections? You are the corrupt one, right?“
The defendant denied this claim.
Ivanova, Gaberova and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, deny participating in espionage between August 30, 2020 and February 8, 2023 Ivanova pleaded not guilty to the second charge of possession of false documents, the agency notes.
The trial against them continues.