Bulgarian woman based in UK denies spying for Russia

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

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

It allegedly targeted an American military base in Germany and secretly filmed two investigative journalists who were seen as enemies of the Russian state.

Jurors heard that there is a risk that journalists may be kidnapped or attacked.

Giving evidence for the first time, Mrs. Ivanova denied the spy.

She took on the following people assigned to the operations and traveled around Europe, but said she did not know the true purpose of the operation.

She said she believed that one operation targeting investigative journalist Kryshto Grozev was a form of journalism and would reveal to the public that he was corrupt.

“The plan was to try to expose Mr. Grozav,” she said.

However, no information was ever released and “Nothing really happened,” she said.

She said her then-partner, Bizera Jambazova – whom she told jurors she 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 to hurt me,” she said.

The operations were to help the Jambazovs’ friend Orlin Rusev, who helped the couple financially after they first moved to the UK in 2012, Ms Ivanova said.

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

“I was very impressed with him,” she said. “He was the person I always wanted to be. He was a typical immigrant story.”

Both Zambazav and Rusev have already admitted to conspiring to spy on Russia.

Ms Ivanova fought back tears in the witness box as she told how her partner had been arrested in bed with another alleged female spy in the trial, 30 Vanya Gaberova.

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

She said Zambazav told her he had a brain tumor and had gone abroad for treatment. Now she believes it was a lie so he could live a “parallel life” with Ms. Gaberova.

The trial continues.