Russia’s ‘outsourced’ Bulgarian spy ring sentenced to more than 50 years in UK

Keypoints

• The espionage ring consisted of six Bulgarian nationals tasked by Russia to surveil targets across Europe, including Ukrainian and Kremlin critics.
• The network operated out of Norfolk and conducted activities in multiple European cities, including attempting to kidnap a Bulgarian national working for Bellingcat.
• The group was allegedly run by Jan Marsalek, a fugitive linked to Russian intelligence and believed to be hiding in Russia.
• The sentences ranged from roughly six to ten years, with many members being designated as “honeytraps” for espionage efforts.
• The court revealed plans such as staging a fake protest to gather intelligence on foreign governments, showcasing their covert operations.
• Britain’s security authorities emphasized the rising threat of outsourced espionage by foreign states and committed to countering such threats.
• The convicted spies will serve half of their sentences before parole and are likely to be deported to Bulgaria afterward.