Former Chief Operating Officer of Wirecard Jan Marsalek, whom the British investigation considers the head of the Russian spy network in the country, discussed with his business partner Orlin Rusev the possible kidnapping of investigative journalist Bellingcat** Christo Grozev and taking him to Russia, writes The Guardian, citing materials from the criminal case on the activities of Russian spies, the consideration of which began in the British court.
According to the investigation, Marsalek and Rusev in 2021 discussed via correspondence various actions regarding Grozev. Among them were mentioned surveillance of him, kidnapping him and taking him to Moscow, killing the investigator, and infiltrating Bellingcat. Additionally, the correspondence mentioned stealing Grozev's laptop and phone with subsequent destruction or transfer to the Russian embassy. The spies, according to the prosecution, monitored Grozev in Austria, Montenegro, and Spain.
As reported by «Agency»*, in the summer of 2022 at a journalism conference in Montenegro, Grozev's hotel room was broken into. The investigator himself confirmed that his phone was missing from his room.
Several Bulgarian citizens are involved in the spy network case in the British court, besides Rusev, the group included Bizer Djambazov, Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova, Tihomir Ivanchev. Rusev and Djambazov admitted to espionage. The other defendants deny involvement in a conspiracy to gather information damaging to the security and interests of the state. Ivanova also denies having 18 fake identity documents, including British and other passports and documents, reported The Guardian.
In total, according to the prosecution, they conducted six key operations. Besides spying on journalists, they collected information on important objects for Moscow, including the American military base «Patch Barracks» in Stuttgart. Other targets of the spy network were former Russian Investigative Committee employee Kirill Kachur, who was recognized as a «foreign agent» in Russia, and Kazakh politician Bergey Ryskaliyev, who fled Kazakhstan and received political asylum in the UK.
* Recognized as «foreign agents» in Russia.
** Recognized as a «foreign agent» and «undesirable» organization in Russia.
Photo: Roy Rochlin