UK-based Bulgarian woman denies spying for Russia

A Bulgarian woman accused of being part of a Russian spy cell operating in the UK has denied knowing that information she gathered would be sent to Russia.

Katrin Ivanova, 33, is accused of spying on Russia in a series of elaborate operations in the UK and Europe.

He allegedly targeted a US military base in Germany and secretly filmed two investigative journalists considered enemies of the Russian state.

Jurors have heard there was a risk journalists could be kidnapped or killed.

Giving evidence for the first time, Ms Ivanova denied being a spy.

He agreed to follow people targeted by the operations and travel around Europe, but said he did not know the true purpose of the activity.

She said she believed an operation targeting investigative journalist Christo Grozev was itself a form of journalism and revealed to the public that he was corrupt.

“The plan was to try to expose Mr. Grozev,” he said.

However, no information was ever released and “nothing really happened,” he said.

She said her then-Biser Dzhambazov, whom she told the jury she had trusted with her life, asked her to take part in surveillance operations.

“He’s been my partner for over 10 years. Why would he do something that will hurt me?” he said.

The operations were to help Dzhambazov’s friend Orlin Roussev, who helped the couple financially after they first moved to the UK in 2012, Ivanova told the court.

The couple met Roussev at East Croydon station in 2012, and went to dinner with him at a “posh” restaurant near the Thames, he said.

“I was very impressed with him,” he said. “He was someone I always wanted to be like. He was a typical immigrant hero story.”

Both Dzhambazov and Roussev have already admitted conspiracy to spy on Russia.

Ms Ivanova wiped away tears in the witness box as she described hearing how her partner was arrested in bed with the other alleged female spy in this trial, Vanya Gaberova, 30.

Jurors have heard that Dzhambazov and Ms Gaberova were in bed together when police arrived to arrest them in February 2023.

She said Dzhambazov told her he had a brain tumor and went abroad for treatment. He now believes it was a lie so he could live a “parallel life” with Ms Gaberova.

The trial continues.