RUSSIAN SPY RING'S 'HONEY TRAP' PLOT

Bulgarian trio in espionage trial

- TOM PETTIFOR

A RUSSIAN spy ring plotted "honey trap" operations on UK targets, a court has heard.

The plans included filming victims in locations including London, Italy, Spain, Germany and Montenegro, jurors heard.

Bulgarian nationals Katrin Ivanova, 33, Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, are accused of conspiracy to spy between August 2020 and February 2023.

Two other defendants, Orlin Roussev and Biser Dzhambazov, have already pleaded guilty to espionage.

The Old Bailey was told E members of the spy ring planned to manufacture sexual encounters with prominent targets.