UK accuses trio of espionage for Russia

author: FutureCar Staff    

Five individuals have been arrested in the UK on suspicion of breaching the Official Secrets Act, according to the police. Reports suggest that they were detained for allegedly spying for Russia. The individuals in question are Bulgarian nationals who were believed to be working for Russian security services. The arrests were made as part of a major national security investigation.

The Metropolitan Police in London confirmed that four people were detained in the British capital on February 8th of this year. Two men aged 31 and 42, as well as two women aged 29 and 32, were taken into custody. Additionally, a 45-year-old man was held at an address on the Norfolk coast in eastern England.

Although none of the five individuals were charged under the Official Secrets Act, three of them were charged with identity fraud. The individuals charged were Orlin Roussev, aged 45, from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk; Biser Dzambazov, aged 42, from Harrow in northwest London; and Katrin Ivonova, aged 32, also from Harrow. The police confirmed that all three charged individuals are Bulgarian nationals.

According to reports, all five individuals were released on police bail and are scheduled to return in September 2023. The three charged individuals appeared in court in central London on February 13th, each facing charges of possession of false identity documents with improper intention. The false documents included passports, identity cards, and other documents for various countries including the UK, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, and the Czech Republic.

The trio made another court appearance on July 31st and were remanded in custody until a date to be determined. It has been reported that the trio has lived in the UK for several years, working in different jobs and residing in suburban properties.

In recent times, the UK has been increasingly focused on external security threats. Last month, a new national security law was passed with the aim of deterring espionage and foreign interference. The government has identified Russia as "the most acute threat" to its security. In previous cases, police have charged three Russians, who they claim are GRU military intelligence officers, with the attempted murder of former double agent Sergei Skripal in 2018 using the military-grade nerve agent Novichok.

Britain has also taken a strong stance in support of Ukraine following the Russian invasion last year. The country has imposed various sanctions on Russian officials and oligarchs. It is worth mentioning that last year, the domestic spy chief in Britain stated that over 400 suspected Russian spies had been expelled from Europe.

Source: Dawn, August 16th, 2023

FutureCar Staff