Three Bulgarian nationals, believed to be spies for Russia in the UK, have been arrested and charged as part of a major national security inquiry, according to

revelations made by the BBC.

The accused, who were apprehended in February, have remained in custody since their arrest. It is alleged that they were operating on behalf of Russian security agencies.

They stand accused of possessing false identity documents with "improper intention" and are accused of possessing these documents with knowledge of their fraudulent nature. The range of documents includes passports, identity cards, and other official papers from the UK, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, and the Czech Republic.

The trio, identified as:

Orlin Roussev, 45, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk Bizer Dzhambazov, 41, from Harrow, north-west London Katrin Ivanova, 31, also from Harrow have lived in the UK for several years, engaging in various occupations, and residing in different suburban properties.

Mr. Roussev has a history of business dealings involving Russia. He moved to the UK in 2009 and spent three years working in a technical role within the financial services sector. His LinkedIn profile suggests that he later owned a business linked to signals intelligence, which encompasses the interception of communications or electronic signals. He also notes that he previously advised the Bulgarian Ministry of Energy.

In Harrow, Mr. Dzhambazov and Ms. Ivanova were known as a couple. Mr. Dzhambazov worked as a driver for hospitals, while Ms. Ivanova identified herself on her LinkedIn profile as a laboratory assistant for a private health business. The duo, who moved to the UK around a decade ago, operated a community organization offering services to the Bulgarian community, including acclimatizing them to "the culture and norms of British society."

According to online Bulgarian state documents, they also worked for electoral commissions in London, facilitating voting in Bulgarian elections for citizens living abroad.

Mr. Dzhambazov and Ms. Ivanova are scheduled to face trial at the Old Bailey in London in January. At present, they have not entered pleas to the charges against them.

Counter-terrorism authorities have expressed concerns about the escalating focus on suspected state threats and espionage, particularly with ties to Russia. These concerns have intensified due to notable incidents involving Russian intelligence operations on British soil in recent years.

In 2018, Russian operatives attempted the assassination of former double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, Wiltshire, using the lethal nerve agent Novichok. Both victims, as well as responding detective Nick Bailey, were hospitalized and faced potential death.

Later the same year, Dawn Sturgess, an unrelated individual, died after being exposed to the same nerve agent, which had been concealed in a perfume bottle in Wiltshire.

In 2006, former Russian intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko was assassinated in London after being poisoned by agents acting on behalf of the Russian state.

Photo by Setreset, Wikimedia commons.