Summary
Six Bulgarians were sentenced to prison for spying for Russia in the UK and Europe. The court found they targeted journalists and dissidents, while operating under the direction of a fugitive linked to Russian intelligence. The group was paid significant amounts for their operation, and some members received reduced sentences for pleading guilty.
Key Facts
- Six Bulgarians received prison sentences in the UK for spying on behalf of Russia.
- The group's activities included spying on journalists who revealed nerve agent attacks on Russian dissidents.
- The ringleader, Orlin Roussev, was sentenced to over 10 years in prison.
- The spies were involved in operations in the UK, Austria, Spain, Germany, and Montenegro.
- Their actions posed a significant risk to the UK's national security, according to the sentencing judge.
- They referred to themselves as "minions" and were connected to Russian military intelligence.
- Jan Marsalek, an Austrian fugitive, was directing their operations according to the evidence presented.
- The UK court saw this case as one of the largest foreign intelligence operations it had handled.
