Bulgarian man, 38, appears in London court accused of being sixth member of Russian spy ring

• Tihomir Ivanchev was arrested on February 7 as part of a year-long investigation

A Bulgarian man appeared in court today accused of being the sixth member of a suspected Russian spy ring.

Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 38, has been charged with conspiring to collect information which could be harmful to the ‘safety and interest of the state’ on behalf of Russia.

The Bulgarian national, of Acton, west London, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, where he was denied bail and remanded in custody after entering no plea.

Ivanchev, who will next appear at the Old Bailey on March 15, is accused of being part of an organised network conducting surveillance against several identities or locations in order to assist the Russian state in carrying out hostile interference, the court heard.

He was arrested on February 7 as part of an investigation led by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.

Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 38, appeared in court today accused of being the sixth member of a suspected Russian spy ring

Court artist sketch of Ivanchev at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London today

As part of the same investigation, five other Bulgarian nationals have previously been arrested and charged and are awaiting trial in October.

It is alleged the group, all of whom are Bulgarians, were part of a ‘network’ that operated in Britain between August 2020 and February 2023.

The other defendants are Orlin Roussev, 46, of Princes Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk; Bizer Dzhambazov, 42, of High Road, Harrow, north-west London; Katrin Ivanova, 31, also of High Road, Harrow, north-west London; Ivan Stoyanov, 32, from Bannister Close, Greenford, west London and Vanya Gaberova, 29, from Churchfield Road, Acton, north-west London.

The group are accused of conspiring to obtain, collect, record, publish or communicate documents or information which was calculated to be, or might be or was intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy for a purpose prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state.

Gaberova, a beautician, previously hit headlines after telling customers she had no interest in politics.

Roussev, Dzhambazov and Ivanova are also charged with possession of false identity documents with improper intention under section 4 of the Identity Documents Act 2010.

The group are alleged to have worked with Jan Marsalek, an Austrian fugitive who is among Interpol’s most wanted people and is now believed to be hiding in Russia under the protection of military intelligence.

Vanya Gaberova, 29, runs a west London beauty salon called Pretty Woman and lived with her boyfriend, an unnamed decorator, in a nearby flat

31-year-old Ivan Stoyanov appeared at the hearing via video link from prison

Fellow suspected spies (L-R) Orlin Roussev, 45, Katrin Ivanova, 31 and Bizer Dzhambazov, 41, were previously charged on February 11, 2023

Alleged spies Katrin Ivanova (left) and Vanya Gaberova (right) seen in an artist’s illustration as they appear at Westminster Magistrates court via videolink last year

Alleged spies Orlin Roussev (left) Bizer Dzhambazov (centre) and Ivan Stoyanov seen in an artist’s illustration as they appear at Westminster Magistrates court via videolink last year

Kathryn Selby, prosecuting told the court: ‘Together with five other suspects awaiting trial, they were all part of an organised network of UK based Bulgarian nationals, conducting surveillance against several individuals and locations on behalf of the Russian state.

‘Their purpose was to assist Russian state in hostile action against targets, including their abduction.’

There was no application for bail and District Judge John Zani remanded Ivanchev in custody and sent the case for a hearing at the Old Bailey on March 15.

Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Counter-Terrorism Command, said: ‘A sixth suspect was identified and arrested as a result of enquiries made following the previous five arrests in this investigation, and working with the Crown Prosecution Service, a charge has now been brought.

Nick Price, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: ‘The CPS has authorised a charge of conspiracy to conduct espionage against a sixth person suspected of spying for Russia.

‘The function of the CPS is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for a criminal court to consider.’

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