Russian Spy Ring Busted: Seaside Guesthouse Raid Uncovers Extensive Espionage Operation
A six-person Bulgarian spy ring, operating from a Great Yarmouth guesthouse, was convicted of espionage for Russia. The group, led by Orlin Roussev and Bizer Dzhambazov (who pleaded guilty), used sophisticated technology and false identities to gather intelligence on targets including a journalist Vladimir Putin “seriously hated.” The operation, spanning 2020-2023, involved surveillance in London and across Europe, with the aim of gathering information for the GRU. The network’s Moscow contact was allegedly Jan Marsalek, a wanted fugitive. The case, one of the largest spying investigations in recent decades, highlights Russia’s attempts to maintain a British presence following the Skripal poisoning.
John Q. Hosedrinker