Sixth member of 'Russian spy ring' in Britain is charged with espionage: Bulgarian, 38, is accused of 'working with five other compatriots to collect information for Putin's regime'

A Bulgarian man living in the UK has been accused of being part of spy ring who attempted to collect information for Russia.

Tihomir Ivanchev, 38, had been charged with conspiracy to obtain, collect, record, publish or communicate documents or information which might be or was intended to be directly or indirectly useful for a purpose prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state.

He is the sixth person to be charged as part of an investigation into a suspected espionage plot, after five others were accused of carrying out surveillance for Vladimir Putin’s regime last Autumn.

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 charges against them were brought after an investigation by counter terrorism police, with a trial expected to be heard at the Old Bailey in London in October this year.

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

Ivanchev, 38, from Acton in west London, is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, February 28.

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.

Alleged spies Katrin Ivanova (left) and Vanya Gaberova 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

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 charges follow an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.

‘Criminal proceedings against the six individuals are active and they each 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.

‘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.’

A trial date for the five who were previously charged has been set for October 28, 2024 at the Central Criminal Court – also known as the Old Bailey – in London.

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