The group of Bulgarians accused in the UK of spying for Russia acted against Bulgarian journalist Hristo Grozev, who works for Bellingcat. This was stated by prosecutor Alison Morgan in the court in London. The group tried to use sexual bait against him via Facebook, the prosecution claims. The prosecutor also said that Ivanova, Gaberova and Dzhambazov followed Grozev to a hotel in Valencia, as Gaberova filmed him together with Bellingcat founder Elliot Higgins.

33-year-old Katrin Ivanova, 30-year-old Vanya Gaberova and 39-year-old Tihomir Ivanchev are accused of being part of a Russian spy network led by agent Jan Marsalek, which acted against various people, including dissidents.

Prosecutors say Ivanova, Gaberova and Ivanchev, along with Orlin Rusev and Biser Dzhambazov, also spied on a US military base in Germany where Ukrainian soldiers are trained. The case against the Bulgarians is expected to continue until February, BTA reports.