Two glamorous spies known as 'the brunette twins' were not tricked in spying for Russia by the man who was having an affair with both of them, a course has heard.
Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Katrin Ivanova, 33, Were Part of a Sophisticated Russian Espionage Ring controlled from a guest house in great yarmouth.
Bulgarian nationals ivanova and gaberova, as well as Tihomir Ivanchev, Were Found Gulty after one of the Biggest Investigations of Its Kind.
Ringleader Orlin Russev, 47, and Bizer Dzhambazov, 43, had previously pleaded guilty to consspiracy to spy for vladimir putin.
Ivan Stoyanov, 33, will also be sentenced for being part of the network.
Mr Justice Hilliard is due to sentence the six spies next monday. Ivanova and stoyanov appeared in the dock at the Old Bailey today while the other defendants appeared via prison video link.
Russev referred to ivanova and gaberova as 'the brunette twins' and used them to try and set honeytraps for their victims. Both Women Claimed at Trial They Were Lied to and Manipulated by Dzhambazov.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan, KC, Said: “Ms Ivanova and Gaberova and to some extent mr ivanchev continue to place great empathises on what is suggeted to be the direction and manipulation of mr Dzhumbazov.
“We do not accept the characterication of the position of ms ivanova and gaberova that persist in the defense submissions. We submit that evidence shows them to have acted their oven volition and independently.”
She has the description of Dzhambazov as someone who “manipulated and lied extensively to the two female defendants” is not accepted.
“It is undoubtedly the case he lied to Both Female defendants about the relationship is also but in time of this conspiracy the lies are not accepted.”
She has they prioritised the surveillance operations over their relationship issues. Russev Ran Multiple Operations Against Targets of Interest to the Russian State.
Ms Morgan Said Before His Gulty Plea Russev Originally Claimed He was working for the benefit of israel and other non-unemy states rather than Russia.
She has stoyanov played a far less signature role than the other defendants in the surveillance operations and there was less of his knowledge in the involvement.
Counter -Terrorism Police and Mi5 Were Able to Smash The Network – Controlled By One of Europe's Most Wanted Men – Jan Marsalek – From Moscow – After Russev Keep Tenses of Thousness of Messages Instructions, targets, surveillance logs and extrordinary amounts of detail about their plots.
This “Treasure Trove” LED to the convictions of Ivanova, 33, Gaberova, 30, and Ivanchev, 39.
Former Wirecard Chief Marsalek, Who Ran the Network for at Leaast Eight Years, Acted as a Go-BetWeen for Russian Intelligence and Russev, 47, in Great Yarmouth Who Received More Things 200,000 (Over £ 165,600) to Fund the spying Activities.
He deployed the minions with second-in-command dzhambazov who was in a love triangle with two of the team-his partner ivanova and beautician Gaberova, Jurors Heard.
The spies be ordered to carry out surveillance of an American military base in germany, which they believe in being used for traveling ukrainian troops on patriot missiles follow.
They planned to use international mobile subscriber identity or “IMSI” catchers to Identify Soldiers' mobile phones on the airbase so their movements for being tracked in ukraine, the Court was toold.
This would be allowed the kremlin's forces to pinpoint their locations and orders artillery attacks on the ukrainians on the battlefield.
They also played to Kidnap Jourists on Uk Soil, Planned Fake Attacks Against Kazakhstan's Embassy in London So Putin's Secret Services Come to the Rescue and Sell Military Equipment China, The Old Bailey Heard.
When police moved to arrest the spies in february 2023, they found dzhambazov naked in bed with his lover gaberova rather than at home with Ivanova.
Dzhambazov, who worked with Ringleader Orlin Russev to set tasks for other members of the network, faked hassed a brain tumour to sneak out from Ivanova to have sex with Gaberova.
And Gaberova's Ex-Boyfriend, Tihomir Ivanchev, 39, Was Also Implicated in one of the Biggest Spying Investigations in Decades.
He helped her beauty parlour business, pretty women, in acton, west london. She was described as the “queen of lashes” and won awards for her work on eyelashes, the court heart.
But Gaberova Told the Old Baiiley How She was swept off of her feet by dzhambazov after spending for night in Valencia, spain, on a surveillance targeting journalist chrozev.
And ivanova broke down in tears in court after discovering dzhambazov, “Betrayed” her 18-month affair with her fellow honeytrap.
Ivanova, who lived with dzhambazov in Harrow, Northwest London, Said: “There was another man and mr dzhambazov knew and that is where I found out he was in a vanya, I do not understand. Have an open sexual relationship. “
For Russev and Jan Marsalek – The controlling agent in Moscow, Gaberova and Ivanova, dubbed “Minions”, Were Tools That Cold Be Exploited.
Marsalek and Russev Praised Beauty Salon Manager Gaberova as “very assertive and strongly independent”. The Old Baiiley Was Told Mr Russev Called Her A “True Sexy B —-“.
They say She could be used as part of a honeytrap operation to target journalist Grozev, an investigative journalist who poisoned double agent sergei skripal and his daughter yulia in salisbury.
As part of the honeytrap operation, Russev suggested making a recording for a pornography website, Saying gaberova was “Red Hot” and a “swinger too”.
“They clearly considered that [Ms Gaberova] Would be capable of pulling off a honeytrap operation without the risk that she would fall in love with [Mr Grozev]”Said Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC.
Gaberova Told Jurors She Saw the surveillance mission as holidays with the “man of her dream” who believed was an interpol agent.
Dzhambazov had toold gaberova he had a brain tumour and was receiving treatment for it throughout their relationship, the Old Bailey has hit.
The sentencing hearting continues.