Man accused of spying for Russia 'spoke to MI5'

A suspect successful an alleged Russian spy ringing lawsuit told constabulary helium had already spoken to MI5 erstwhile helium was arrested, the Old Bailey has heard.

The tribunal was played Tihomir Ivanchev's interrogation from February 2024 successful which helium told a constabulary serviceman "I met a feline from MI5 and we've done a fewer talks".

Mr Ivanchev, 39, Katrin Ivanova, 33, and Vanya Gaberova, 30, each from London, contradict conspiracy to spy.

Ms Ivanova besides denies possessing aggregate mendacious individuality documents.

Orlin Roussev, 46, and different man, Biser Dzhambazov, 43, from London, person admitted conspiracy to spy.

Ms Gaberova was arrested successful February 2023 and constabulary bodycam footage shows Mr Ivanchev arriving astatine her level afterwards to effort and talk to her.

He told an serviceman that Ms Gaberova was his "ex-girlfriend", helium had noticed her quality salon was unopen and wanted to know: "Is she alive?".

The assemblage heard that Ms Gaberova was interviewed by constabulary 4 times.

In a prepared connection successful 1 interrogation she told the police: "I americium not a Russian spy".

She initially refused to springiness the password to her iPhone 13 but astatine a aboriginal interrogation provided it.

Ms Ivanova was besides interviewed by constabulary successful February 2023, and successful her connection said: "I contradict conducting immoderate surveillance activities connected behalf of Russia. I person nary affiliations with Russia."

She said: "I person lived and worked successful the UK since 2012. I wage taxes and I bask surviving here."

She answered "no comment" to constabulary interrogation questions.

On 7 February 2024, a twelvemonth aft the archetypal arrests, Mr Ivanchev was arrested astatine his location successful Enfield, London.

The assemblage was played the afloat 1hr 47 infinitesimal interrogation helium gave constabulary aboriginal connected the time of the apprehension successful which helium chose not to person a solicitor present.

Mr Ivanchev told constabulary Ms Gaberova had met Dzhambazov successful 2021 and "travelled respective times with him".

The assemblage heard Mr Ivanchev accidental that Dzhambazov told him helium was an Interpol agent.

In his February 2024 interrogation helium said Dzhambazov "needed much people" and helium initially thought helium would beryllium taking photos and videos of "criminals" who would beryllium arrested.

When asked by the constabulary if helium thought helium was "chasing atrocious guys", Mr Ivanchev said "yes".

Mr Ivanchev said that initially helium treated it similar a "paid holiday" but erstwhile helium started "using my encephalon more, I started realising determination was thing dodgy".

"This is the dumbest happening I've done successful my life," helium said successful his Hammersmith Police Station interview.

Mr Ivanchev told constabulary helium was initially paid €200 a day, and the outgo came done Dzhambazov's Revolut account.

He said helium "went a fewer times to Montenegro, and a fewer times to Austria".

He thought his archetypal travel was to Vienna wherever the "target" was "Mr Grozev" and helium spent either 3 oregon 4 days there.

Christo Grozev, an investigative writer for the Bellingcat group, had uncovered Russian links to the 2018 Salisbury attack.

The proceedings has been told the defendants worked nether the absorption of Roussev, and that he, successful turn, received instructions from Jan Marsalek, who was moving arsenic an "intermediary for the Russian quality services".

The assemblage has been shown Telegram messages betwixt Marsalek and Roussev astir targeting the journalist.

Mr Ivanchev said that aft Ms Gaberova's apprehension helium told the MI5 "guy" that helium was readying to sojourn Bulgaria from the UK.

The assemblage watched his constabulary interrogation successful which Mr Ivanchev said the borderline constabulary were waiting for him astatine the airdrome and helium "spent... a fewer hours with them conscionable explaining the aforesaid situation".

Mr Ivanchev said his telephone and laptop were taken by borderline constabulary and a fewer days aboriginal was told helium could person them back.

He said "I knew astir apt astatine immoderate constituent I was gonna get a telephone call", and "I already told them my code and stuff".

At the trial, jurors person heard the 5 Bulgarian nationals were progressive successful six operations against individuals and places of involvement to the Russian authorities for astir 3 years.

The proceedings continues.