A Bulgarian man living in London told police he thought he was working for an Interpol agent after being arrested for allegedly spying for Russia, a court has heard.
Tihomir Ivanchev is on trial at the Old Bailey, along with two female Bulgarian nationals who also lived in the capital.
They are accused of being part of a network of spies targeting people and places of interest to the Russian state. They have all pleaded not guilty to espionage.
Defendant ‘felt stupid not checking Interpol agent’s credentials’
Ivanchev told police that fellow defendant Vanya Gaberova had introduced him to Biser Dzhambazov, who said he was an Interpol agent but that he was ill with cancer.
Ivanchev said he had been tasked by Dzhambazov to carry out operations in Vienna and Montenegro, travelling there three or four times.
He said he knew another defendant, Katrin Ivanova, who was Dzhambazov’s girlfriend, and that he had been in contact with Orlin Roussev, who was “leading” everything.
He said he felt “stupid” to have got involved without ever seeing a badge or documentation to confirm Dzhambazov was working for Interpol.
Trio accused of tracking Russian dissident
The three defendants are accused of travelling to Montenegro to track the movements of Russian dissident Kirill Kachur, who would later be kidnapped or killed, according to the prosecution.
It is claimed that whilst there, the alleged manager of the trio, Roussev, took instructions from Russian agent Jan Marsalek, an Austrian national.
The jury heard that Marsalek allegedly told Roussev: “Our friends would like to see him [Kachur] return to Russia… We don’t mind if he dies by accident, but better if he manages to find his way to Moscow.”
It is claimed that Roussev told Marsalek that the “kidnap part is easy” suggesting they hire a “private flight” to transport Kachur back to Moscow.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC argued that the three defendants were monitoring the vehicles and individuals coming and going from Kachur’s villa.
The jury was played a covert video recording of Gaberova and Dzhambazov playing badminton next to Kachur’s car as a guise to film surveillance footage.
Roussev and Dzhambazov have already pleaded guilty for spying for Russia.
The trial continues.
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineMan in alleged London Russian spy ring claims he was working on behalf of Interpol, court hears
Short HeadlineMan in 'London Russian spy ring' claims he was working for Interpol
StandfirstThree Bulgarian nationals from London are on trial accused of spying for Russia
A Bulgarian man living in London told police he thought he was working for an Interpol agent after being arrested for allegedly spying for Russia, a court has heard.
Tihomir Ivanchev is on trial at the Old Bailey, along with two female Bulgarian nationals who also lived in the capital.
They are accused of being part of a network of spies targeting people and places of interest to the Russian state. They have all pleaded not guilty to espionage.
Defendant ‘felt stupid not checking Interpol agent’s credentials’
Ivanchev told police that fellow defendant Vanya Gaberova had introduced him to Biser Dzhambazov, who said he was an Interpol agent but that he was ill with cancer.
Ivanchev said he had been tasked by Dzhambazov to carry out operations in Vienna and Montenegro, travelling there three or four times.
He said he knew another defendant, Katrin Ivanova, who was Dzhambazov’s girlfriend, and that he had been in contact with Orlin Roussev, who was “leading” everything.
He said he felt “stupid” to have got involved without ever seeing a badge or documentation to confirm Dzhambazov was working for Interpol.
Trio accused of tracking Russian dissident
The three defendants are accused of travelling to Montenegro to track the movements of Russian dissident Kirill Kachur, who would later be kidnapped or killed, according to the prosecution.
It is claimed that whilst there, the alleged manager of the trio, Roussev, took instructions from Russian agent Jan Marsalek, an Austrian national.
The jury heard that Marsalek allegedly told Roussev: “Our friends would like to see him [Kachur] return to Russia… We don’t mind if he dies by accident, but better if he manages to find his way to Moscow.”
It is claimed that Roussev told Marsalek that the “kidnap part is easy” suggesting they hire a “private flight” to transport Kachur back to Moscow.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC argued that the three defendants were monitoring the vehicles and individuals coming and going from Kachur’s villa.
The jury was played a covert video recording of Gaberova and Dzhambazov playing badminton next to Kachur’s car as a guise to film surveillance footage.
Roussev and Dzhambazov have already pleaded guilty for spying for Russia.
