Suspected Russian spies held in major UK security investigation

Three UK residents suspected of spying for Russia have been charged by the Met Police as part of a major national security probe.

The three defendants, all Bulgarian nationals, were arrested on February 8 on suspicion of an offence under the Official Secrets Act 1911.

Suspected of working for the Russian security services, they have since been charged with “possession of false identity documents with improper intention”.

According to the BBC, the documents include “passports, identity cards and other documents for the UK, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, and the Czech Republic”.

A 31-year-old man living in west London, and a 29-year-old woman living in north London were also arrested as part of the operation on February 8, but have not been charged.

All three of the suspects charged have lived in the UK for “years”, according to an investigation by the BBC, working a variety of jobs and living in a number of different properties in the suburbs.

Two of the trio - Katrin Ivanova, 31, and Bizer Dzhambazov, 41 - were living at a property in Harrow, north-west London, when they were arrested in February.

People who previously lived next door to them described them as a couple, and told the BBC they would bring their neighbours gifts of pies and cakes.

Police spent around a week searching their most recent home in High Road, Harrow, neighbours told the BBC.

Ms Ivanova is said to describe herself on LinkedIn as a medical laboratory assistant at a private health firm, while Mr Dzhambazov is reportedly described as a driver for hospitals.

The pair is understood to have moved to the UK around 10 years ago.

The third defendant, 45-year-old Orlin Roussev, lived in Princes Road in Great Yarmouth, on the Norfolk coast, at the time of his arrest.

His Linkedin profile states he once acted as an adviser to Bulgaria’s ministry of energy.

The trio last appeared at the Old Bailey on July 31. They were remanded in custody, and are next due to appear at the Old Bailey on a date that is yet to be fixed.

They are not understood to have yet entered pleas for the charges they face.

Britain has been sharpening its focus on external security threats and last month it passed a new national security law, aiming to deter espionage and foreign interference with updated tools and criminal provisions.

The government labeled Russia “the most acute threat” to its security when the law was passed.

Police have charged three Russians, who they say are GRU military intelligence officers, with the 2018 attempt to murder former double agent Sergei Skripal with the military-grade nerve agent Novichok. Two were charged in 2018 and the third in 2021.

Last year, Britain’s domestic spy chief said more than 400 suspected Russian spies had been expelled from Europe.