In a startling revelation, three Bulgarian nationals have been convicted in the UK for orchestrating espionage operations involving honeytraps, kidnapping, and murder plots aimed at high-profile dissidents and military sites. The base of these activities? The Haydee Guesthouse, a rundown establishment in Great Yarmouth known for its Victorian charm.
According to British court proceedings, the guesthouse hosted a freelance spy ring responsible for various nefarious activities across continents. This included attempts to apprehend dissidents and disrupt sensitive military operations.
The ring’s members—Gabriela Gaberova, Katrin Ivanova, and Tihomir Ivanchev—were found guilty of conspiring to spy. Gaberova, a beautician, was reportedly involved in honeytrap schemes, while Ivanova was charged with possessing identity documents for improper purposes. Their handler, Biser Dzhambazov, known as “Mad Max,” was also implicated in the operations.
The group undertook missions that frequently seemed torn from the pages of a spy novel. They targeted investigative journalist Christo Grozev, tracking him across several countries, and devised plans to abduct Roman Dobrokhotov, another vocal critic of Russia.
In an even more bizarre plot, they aimed to spray the Kazakh Embassy in London with fake pig’s blood while creating a fictitious opposition group to mislead Kazakh intelligence and enhance Russia’s standing.
Investigators uncovered over 200,000 messages among the operatives and a significant cache of spy equipment, including concealed cameras. The group’s activities also reflect broader Russian efforts to influence foreign politics and destabilize rival nations.
Authorities consider this operation one of the largest espionage investigations in the UK in the last 15 years. The appointed leader of the operation, Jan Marsalek, has been linked to Russian intelligence and is currently wanted in Germany.
The three defendants now await sentencing in May, with officials stressing that their actions posed serious threats to UK security. Despite claims of ignorance regarding their involvement, the Crown Prosecution Service stated there is no doubt they knew who they were working for, highlighting the extensive influence of Russian covert operations in the UK as a growing concern.
Credit: NBC News
