Three Bulgarian nationals suspected of spying for Russia while living in the UK have been arrested and charged, police have said.
The defendants were among five people detained in February following a long-running counter-terrorism investigation. Three of those were then charged with possession of false identity documents with improper intention, the Metropolitan police – which is responsible for espionage cases – said in a statement.
The BBC reported that they are accused of working for Russia’s security services, as part of what appears to be an undercover cell. They reportedly held passports and identity cards from Bulgaria, France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece and the Czech Republic.
The defendants – arrested under the Official Secrets Act by counter-terrorism police – knew the documents were forged and had them with “improper intention”, it is alleged.
The three alleged spies are Orlin Roussev, 45, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk; Bizer Dzhambazov, 41, of Harrow, north-west London, and Katrin Ivanova, 31, of the same Harrow address.
The trio had lived in the UK for years, working in a variety of jobs, and living in a series of suburban properties, the BBC reported. » | Luke Harding and Matthew Weaver | Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Three suspected Russian spies arrested by counter-terror police: The trio, all Bulgarian nationals and said to have lived in the UK for years, have been charged with identity offences »
