Tihomir Ivanchev – one of the six Bulgarian citizens accused of spying for Russia claims he was convinced he was working for an Interpol agent and not for the Kremlin, it became clear after another hearing in the trial of the Bulgarian spies at the Central Criminal Court &ndash ; Old Bailey, reported BNR.
The trial of Tikhomir Ivanchev, Vanya Gaberova and Katrin Ivanova continues at the Old Bailey on charges that they were part of an espionage network that targeted subjects and objects of interest to the Russian state for three years. They are said to have been variously involved in six operations, including a plot to stage a fake pig's blood demonstration outside the Kazakh embassy in London and gathering intelligence at a United States air base in Germany where Ukrainian soldiers are being trained.
After their arrests last February, Gaberova and Ivanova denied having committed a crime, and Ivanchev said he thought he was being paid by an Interpol agent. After Ivanchev's arrest in West London, he told police his "life was screwed up" after meeting Gaberova, jurors heard.
Ivanchev added that she was his friend and introduced him to a man named Biser Jambazov, who said he was an Interpol agent but had cancer. Ivanchev said that he was commissioned by Jambazov to do work in Vienna and Montenegro, traveling there three or four times.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan told the court that Ivanchev explained how he started following people, taking pictures and videos, booking trips and doing research on the internet. Ivanchev also revealed that he was paid 200 euros per day, but later the payment was reduced to 120 euros per day.
He expressed regret that "stupid“ engaged in operations without ever seeing a badge or documents confirming Dzhambazov's affiliation with Interpol. Biser Dzhambezov and Orlin Rusev, the head of the spy cell, pleaded guilty.
The trial at the Old Bailey continues.