Suspected Russian spies held in major UK security investigation

Three suspected spies for Russia successful the UK person been arrested and charged successful a large nationalist information investigation, the BBC tin reveal.

The defendants, each Bulgarian nationals, were held successful February and person been remanded successful custody since.

It is alleged they were moving for the Russian information services.

They are charged with possessing individuality documents with "improper intention", and are alleged to person had these knowing they were fake.

The documents see passports, individuality cards and different documents for the UK, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, and the Czech Republic.

The 3 defendants were arrested nether the Official Secrets Act by counter-terrorism detectives from the Metropolitan Police, which has nationalist policing work for espionage.

The trio person lived successful the UK for years, moving successful a assortment of jobs, and surviving successful a bid of suburban properties.

Mr Roussev has past of concern dealings successful Russia.

He moved to the UK successful 2009 and spent 3 years moving successful a method relation successful fiscal services.

His online LinkedIn illustration states helium aboriginal owned a concern progressive successful signals intelligence, which involves the interception of communications oregon physics signals.

Mr Roussev, whose astir caller code is simply a seaside guesthouse successful Great Yarmouth, besides states helium erstwhile acted arsenic an advisor to the Bulgarian ministry of energy.

In Harrow, erstwhile neighbours described Mr Dzhambazov and Ms Ivanova arsenic a couple.

Mr Dzhambazov is described arsenic a operator for hospitals, and Ms Ivanova describes herself connected her online LinkedIn illustration arsenic a laboratory adjunct for a backstage wellness business.

The pair, who moved to the UK astir a decennary ago, ran a assemblage organisation providing services to Bulgarian people, including familiarising them with the "culture and norms of British society".

According to Bulgarian authorities documents online, they besides worked for electoral commissions successful London which facilitate voting successful Bulgarian elections by citizens surviving abroad.

Speaking to the BBC, neighbours astatine 2 houses antecedently occupied by the mates said they brought circular pies and cakes arsenic gifts.

At their astir caller Harrow home, neighbours said detectives spent a important magnitude of clip searching it, with a disposable constabulary beingness for implicit a week.

The 3 defendants are owed to spell connected proceedings astatine the Old Bailey successful London successful January. They person yet to participate pleas to the charges.

Counter-terrorism constabulary person spoken publically astir the expanding magnitude of clip spent connected suspected authorities threats and espionage, particularly relating to Russia.

Their interest follows notorious incidents from caller years involving Russian quality operations successful the UK.

In 2018, Russian operatives attempted to execution former double-agent Sergei Skripal and his girl Yulia successful Salisbury, Wiltshire, utilizing the deadly nervus cause Novichok. The pair, arsenic good arsenic responding detective Nick Bailey, were treated successful infirmary and could person died.

Later that year, section pistillate Dawn Sturgess - who was unconnected to the Skripals - died aft being exposed to the nervus agent, which had been near successful Wiltshire successful a perfume bottle.

In 2006, erstwhile Russian-intelligence serviceman Alexander Litvinenko was killed successful London after being poisoned by assassins moving for the Russian state.