'Sophisticated' UK-based Russian spy ring plotted to use female members as 'honey traps'

A tribunal has heard however pistillate members were utilized for 'extremely risky' operations wherever they allegedly got adjacent to their victims and filmed them successful locations astir the world, including London

A Russian spy ringing plotted “honey trap” operations connected UK targets, a tribunal has heard.

The plans included filming victims successful locations including London, Italy, Spain, Germany and Montenegro, jurors heard.

Bulgarian nationals Katrin Ivanova, 33, Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, are accused of conspiracy to spy betwixt August 2020 and February 2023.

Two different defendants, Orlin Roussev and Biser Dzhambazov, person already pleaded blameworthy to espionage.

The Old Bailey was told members of the spy ringing planned to manufacture intersexual encounters with salient targets.

They are accused of targeting important locations including an embassy and aerial basal successful Germany.

Opening the proceedings today, Alison Morgan KC said the defendants’ actions were not successful question, and that jurors should absorption connected their motives.

She said: “It was precocious hazard and it was highly sophisticated. The prosecution alleges that it is fanciful to suggest that immoderate of these defendants were ignorant arsenic to wherefore they were doing what they were doing.” It is alleged the accused were paid ample sums of wealth by the Russian state.

Activities often progressive surveillance, pursuing radical oregon uncovering retired wherever they were and reporting backmost to Russia, the tribunal heard.

Ms Morgan said the ringing carried retired six operations implicit astir 3 years “for the payment of Russia, an force of the UK”.

She said they obtained imagery and compiled reports, adding: “Their enactment caused evident and inevitable prejudice to the information and interests of the United Kingdom.”

It is alleged the trio plotted with Russian cause “Rupert Ticz”, said to beryllium Austrian Jan Marsalek.

Roussev and Dzhambazov person admitted having fake IDs for spying, immoderate of which were recovered successful Ivanova’s bedroom.

She has besides denied a 2nd complaint of possession of mendacious ID documents.

At the clip of the alleged offences, Ivanchev was surviving successful Acton, West London, Ivanova successful Harrow, North West London, and Gaberova successful Euston, North London.

The Old Bailey proceedings continues.