An agent for Russia and a Bulgarian based mostly in Britain mentioned establishing a “honeytrap” for an investigative journalist, the Outdated Bailey has heard.
Jan Marsalek, the agent, chatted on Telegram with Orlin Roussev in September 2021 a few plot to focus on the award-winning journalist Christo Grozev, recognized for his investigations into Russian espionage, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC stated.
Roussev advised to Marsalek that Vanya Gaberova, 30, may “transfer slowly to romance” and “push for a date” with Grozev, 64, after the journalist was “very fast” to simply accept a Fb friendship request from her. They stated the London-based beautician could be too “strongly unbiased” to fall for him.
Grozev “appears hooked and in love with Vanya”, Roussev claimed in correspondence learn out in court docket, and he had began “liking” footage and posts she had made, creating what he stated was a risk for a pretend romance.
Marsalek queried whether or not she “could be up for that” and advised: “Let’s wait somewhat, let’s not underestimate the man and his paranoia.”
Roussev, nonetheless, stated he believed the plot may work as a result of Gaberova was “crimson sizzling”. In response, Marsalek voiced a level of uncertainty, writing in a communication between the 2 males disclosed in court docket: “True. I hope she doesn’t fall in love with him. I had that downside earlier than with a honeytrap.”
Roussev informed Marsalek that he was “utilizing the mistaken sort of ladies” and that “You want sturdy, assertive and independence-driven women”.
Describing Gaberova, he stated she was “very, very assertive and strongly unbiased … true attractive bitch”.
Gaberova is certainly one of three Bulgarians dwelling within the UK who’re on trial for being a part of the identical UK-based spy ring. She, Katrin Ivanova, 33, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, have denied accusations of gathering info on behalf of Russia.
Two different members of the group, the ringleader Roussev, and an assistant, Biser Dzhambazov, 43, have already pleaded responsible to the identical cost. Roussev in flip was in shut communication with Marsalek, who prosecutors have stated equipped duties to spy on people of apparent curiosity to the Russian state.
The honeytrap plot didn’t proceed, however it was a part of an intensive surveillance of Grozev within the autumn of 2021 in Bulgaria, Austria, Spain and Montenegro aimed toward creating “choices”. One possibility mentioned was the potential kidnap of Grozev from a villa in Bulgaria.
In one other alternate learn out by Morgan, Marsalek stated it had been “advised to him” that Grozev must be kidnapped and “taken to Moscow”. Roussev replied: “in case you are severe … I’ve the sources” – prompting Marsalek to write down that it’s “not a good suggestion” and can “trigger bother”.
Prosecutors stated Grozev was spied on in Vienna, the place he lived, by Ivanchev in an operation that concerned the journalist being adopted and on one event filmed as he travelled across the Austrian capital. Cameras had been skilled on Grozev’s home and his publish was allegedly intercepted.
The journalist was positioned underneath surveillance by the group in Valencia, the place Grozev was travelling to a convention organised by the investigative journalism group Bellingcat. In keeping with the prosecutors, Ivanova was dispatched to observe Grozev on the aircraft to the Spanish metropolis, the place she was joined by Gaberova and Dzhambazov.
They booked a room on the similar lodge as Grozev in Valencia, with Roussev telling Marsalak that the group on the bottom had been €1,900 above price range to make sure they had been on the identical flooring, and monitored the journalist’s actions intently.
Pictures had been recovered from a laptop computer prosecutors stated was attributed to Gaberova of Grozev having breakfast with Eliot Higgins, the founding father of Bellingcat. Morgan stated this confirmed that Gaberova had “performed surveillance” of the journalist.
Monitoring of Grozev resumed in June 2022, when he was adopted by Ivanova on a Wizz Air flight from Vienna to Montenegro. A video proven to the court docket and brought, prosecutors stated, by Ivanova, confirmed her photographing Grozev together with her cellphone and sending it to an individual known as Max – stated to be Dzhambazov.
The movie, Morgan informed the court docket, was obtained from video surveillance glasses worn by Ivanova throughout the flight. She had filmed herself photographing Grozev on her cellular and likewise sending the message to her affiliate instantly after.
Two different surveillance operations performed by the group had been additionally described in court docket, together with that of Roman Dobrokhotov, the editor-in-chief of unbiased Russian media outlet the Insider.
Dobrokhotov was additionally monitored flying to Berlin in November 2021 to provide proof in a homicide case; his flight particulars had been found as a result of Roussev had entry to advance reserving info, the court docket was informed.
When Marsalek heard Dobrokhotov’s journey plans had been unearthed he wrote to Roussev: “Future flights are superb information! I completely LOVE that airline system.”
Ivanova secured a seat on the flight subsequent to him, and the court docket heard that she had sat shut sufficient to him to accurately word the pin code he used to unlock his cellphone. “Our agent was very, very observant,” Roussev informed Marsalek subsequently, prosecutors stated.
The trial, anticipated to final a number of weeks, continues.
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