Public court records and announcements from the UK judiciary

Russian Spy Ring Trial Reveals Bulgarian Network in UK from 2020 to 2023

Nov 28, 2024, 10:42 PM

Two men have admitted to being Russian spies in Britain, as revealed during the trial of three Bulgarians accused of being part of the same espionage network. The group allegedly operated as a spy ring for Russia from 2020 to 2023, targeting journalists, dissidents, and military sites across Europe. The UK court was told that the network engaged in activities such as stalking journalists, plotting 'honeytrap' operations, and risking many lives. Evidence presented included 495 SIM cards, 221 phones, and 75 fake passports seized during police raids. The court also heard allegations that the spy ring was tasked with kidnapping or murdering journalists, including Christo Grozev and Roman Dobrokhotov, and sending secrets to Russia.