A court has heard how female members were used for ‘extremely risky’ operations where they allegedly got close to their victims and filmed them in locations around the world, including London
A Russian spy ring plotted “honey trap” operations on UK targets, a court has heard.
The plans included filming victims in locations including London, Italy, Spain, Germany and Montenegro, jurors heard.
Bulgarian nationals Katrin Ivanova, 33, Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, are accused of conspiracy to spy between August 2020 and February 2023.
Two other defendants, Orlin Roussev and Biser Dzhambazov, have already pleaded guilty to espionage.
The Old Bailey was told members of the spy ring planned to manufacture sexual encounters with prominent targets.
They are accused of targeting significant locations including an embassy and air base in Germany.
Opening the trial today, Alison Morgan KC said the defendants’ actions were not in question, and that jurors should focus on their motives.
She said: “It was high risk and it was highly sophisticated. The prosecution alleges that it is fanciful to suggest that any of these defendants were ignorant as to why they were doing what they were doing.” It is alleged the accused were paid large sums of money by the Russian state.
Activities often involved surveillance, following people or finding out where they were and reporting back to Russia, the court heard.
Ms Morgan said the ring carried out six operations over nearly three years “for the benefit of Russia, an enemy of the UK”.
She said they obtained imagery and compiled reports, adding: “Their activity caused obvious and inevitable prejudice to the safety and interests of the United Kingdom.”
It is alleged the trio plotted with Russian agent “Rupert Ticz”, said to be Austrian Jan Marsalek.
Roussev and Dzhambazov have admitted having fake IDs for spying, some of which were found in Ivanova’s bedroom.
She has also denied a second charge of possession of false ID documents.
At the time of the alleged offences, Ivanchev was living in Acton, West London, Ivanova in Harrow, North West London, and Gaberova in Euston, North London.
The Old Bailey trial continues.
