Bulgarian Woman Accused of Espionage for Russia Believed She Was Working for Interpol

30-year-old Vanya Gaberova, a Bulgarian national accused by UK authorities of spying for Russia, told the court she believed she was working for Interpol, according to The Guardian article released on January 30.

During her first day of testimony, London-based beautician Gaberova explained that she never questioned Bizer Dzhambazov, 43, when he claimed that untrained individuals like herself were better suited for surveillance because they could blend into crowds more easily.

Dzhambazov, a medical courier, even showed her a fake Interpol ID and promised to help her secure a job in law enforcement.

“I told him my dream is to be police like him, and then he told me, ‘You can be if you want,’” Gaberova told the court.

“Even when I was arrested [in February 2023] I didn’t believe something was wrong.”

Dzhambazov has pleaded guilty to spying for Russia, conducting surveillance for a spy ring led by his friend Orlin Roussev in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Roussev, who also admitted guilt, was linked to Jan Marsalek, an Austrian fugitive and Russian agent in Moscow.

According to Agentura, six individuals have been charged in the Russian espionage case. Alongside Gaberova and Dzhambazov, the defendants include Katrin Ivanova, Tikhomir Ivanchev, Orlin Roussev, and Ivan Stoyanov. Their criminal case became public in September 2023.

In December 2024, the defendants told the court that they had also planned the kidnapping and murder of Russian investigative journalist and The Insider founder, Roman Dobrokhotov.

On December 4, 2024, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský stated that Russia is believed to be linked to nearly 100 incidents in Europe in 2024, classified as hybrid attacks, espionage, or influence operations.