Bulgarian Trio Arrested in UK, Accused of Spying for Russia

Two of the accused lived close to RAF Northolt

Undated photo showing Lady Justice statue on top of the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, commonly referred to as the Old Bailey, in central London. Clara Molden/PA

Three Bulgarian nationals have been charged with breaches of Britain’s Official Secrets Act.

Orlin Roussev, 45, Bizer Dzhambazov, 42, and Katrin Ivanova, 32, have been charged with possession of false identity documents with improper intention. The BBC, Sky News, The Guardian, and the Daily Mail all reported they were alleged to have been working for Russia.

The Times of London reported the trio posed as journalists from U.S. television companies Discovery and National Geographic, and used forged press cards to carry out surveillance operations in London, Germany, and Montenegro.

Mr. Dzhambazov and Ms. Ivanova lived in an apartment in Harrow, northwest London not far from RAF Northolt, an air base which is often used by the British family and top government officials.

Mr. Roussev was arrested at his home in the Norfolk seaside resort of Great Yarmouth.

They were arrested by the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command and appeared at the Old Bailey on July 31. A hearing for Ms. Ivanova alone was held at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.

Remanded in Custody

All three have been remanded in custody and they are yet to enter pleas.

All three will appear together at the Old Bailey at a date to be fixed accused of breaching the Official Secrets Act. It is alleged they were in possession of 34 false identity documents.

The Metropolitan Police said two other people had been arrested in February 2023 on suspicion of an offence under the Official Secrets Act 1911 and had been released on bail until September.

A statement from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “The CPS has authorised charges against Orlin Roussev, Biser Maicimov Dzhambazov and Katrin Ivanova with possession of an identity document with improper intention, contrary to the Identity Documents Act.”

“Criminal proceedings are active and they have the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings,” it added.

PA Media contributed to this report.