Court hears how Russian spy’s tissue of lies over cancer claim was exposed

A Russian spy donned a bandage of “toilet paper” to dupe his person into believing helium had cancer, a tribunal has heard.

Over 3 years, Biser Dzhambazov, 43, deployed a squad of spies crossed Europe to transportation retired surveillance connected radical and places of involvement to the Russian State, it is alleged.

His person Vanya Gaberova and semipermanent spouse Katrin Ivanova person denied being portion of the plot, claiming Dzhambazov lied to them both.

On Friday, Gaberova, 30, told jurors however she became suspicious of his assertion helium had cancer.

In January 2023, she took a Telegram video surface changeable of Dzhambazov with a achromatic bandage coiled astir his head.

Gaberova said helium had called to archer her helium was successful symptom and to “prove” helium was not lying.

Defence barrister Anthony Metzer KC asked: “Did you commencement believing him again?”

Gaberova replied: “I’m afraid, yes. I sent to my parent due to the fact that my parent and sister didn’t judge me.”

Mr Metzer said: “What did you deliberation helium had circular his head?”

The suspect said she believed it was a bandage “like helium is successful a hospital”.

The lawyer pressed: “You judge present it looks similar toilet paper?”

Gaberova conceded that was what her parent had thought.

Mr Metzer asked: “When helium archetypal told you helium had cancer, did you judge him?”

Gaberova replied: “Of course. I was devastated. I was crushed, I couldn’t breathe.”

He told her his encephalon tumour was being treated by a “Dr Matteo” who operated from assorted countries, including Germany, the suspect said.

But helium ne'er asked her to travel him to immoderate aesculapian appointments and by October 2022 her suspicions were raised, the tribunal was told.

Gaberova said she was successful Bulgaria to get her teeth braces removed erstwhile Dzhambazov purported to beryllium successful hospital.

I explained he’s sick with cancer. I springiness his name, day of commencement and they told maine they don’t person diligent with this name

Vanya Gaberova

She told jurors: “He was making a selfie of him successful the infirmary and you tin spot successful the backmost the sanction of the hospital.

“I retrieve helium disappeared aft that. I called this infirmary saying ‘sorry, I’m calling astir my boyfriend’.

“I explained he’s sick with cancer. I springiness his name, day of commencement and they told maine they don’t person diligent with this sanction and this idiosyncratic has been successful this spot lone for dietology appointment.”

The adjacent clip Dzhambazov got successful interaction helium claimed to person moved to different infirmary and Gaberova did not fto connected what she had discovered, the tribunal heard.

She past called the 2nd infirmary and was told determination was nary specified diligent registered determination either, the suspect said.

By December 2022, the narration appeared to beryllium breaking down and Gaberova accused Dzhambazov of “pretending to beryllium a victim”.

In messages work retired successful court, she told him: “Stop bothering maine and permission maine alone. If you request thing I’m present but not for your bullshit. You are toxic.”

Dzhambazov wrote: “I’ve ever told you the information nary substance whether it hurts oregon it doesn’t oregon whether you similar it oregon not.”

The suspect replied: “You and the information are 2 precise antithetic and distant things.”

Around this time, Gaberova told jurors she had been “shocked” to spot him coming retired of a car holding hands with different woman.

Dzhambazov maintained helium was sick, saying: “I conscionable privation you to cognize I’m going successful for country cognition and I don’t privation our past words to beryllium bad.”

In a aboriginal connection helium told Gaberova that helium was “to blasted for everything implicit and implicit again”.

He wrote: “I’m not your happiness. I’m conscionable a compromise for you.”

Gaberova replied: “Yes, but I was yours, you see….

“Take care, small darling. I privation you to get good and beryllium infintely happy. Farewell.”

Earlier successful her evidence, Gaberova told jurors that Dzhambazov’s committedness to assistance her bid to beryllium a constabulary serviceman was “all lies” too.

She went with him to transportation retired surveillance connected Russian dissident Kirill Kachur successful Montenegro connected being told the people was successful hiding aft stealing “a batch of money”, jurors heard.

She explained she had bought a brace of Ray-Ban spy glasses with Dzhambazov’s wealth to perceive to music, instrumentality photographs and play videos, but insisted helium had ne'er paid her for work.

She denied gathering alleged spymaster Jan Marsalek, saying it was axenic coincidence that she had sent her fellow a representation of an Interpol wanted poster astir him.

The suspect said she thought it was “strange” erstwhile she was fixed a fake property paper but she ne'er questioned wherefore oregon utilized it.

She besides told jurors Dzhambazov was aggravated astatine having to organise a sticker driblet successful European cities arsenic “a favour”, insisting she knew thing astir right-wing Ukrainian authorities that they referred to.

On 1 travel to Montenegro, Dzhambazov pulled retired his fake Interpol paper during a confrontation astatine the airdrome implicit his missing luggage, jurors were told.

Gaberova, from Euston, her ex-boyfriend Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, of Acton, and Ivanova, 33, from Harrow, person denied conspiracy to spy betwixt 2020 and 2023.

Ivanova has besides pleaded not blameworthy to a 2nd complaint of possession of mendacious individuality documents.

Dzhambazov, 43, from Harrow, and Orlin Roussev, 46, from Great Yarmouth, person admitted plotting to spy.

The Old Bailey proceedings was adjourned until Monday.