Three of the accused, including Roussev, pleaded guilty during the trial, which began in November 2024, likely leading to reduced sentences despite the serious nature of their crimes.

Six Bulgarians have been sentenced for espionage activities on behalf of Russia, with the ringleader, Orlin Roussev, receiving a prison term of 10 years and eight months for orchestrating the operation from a guesthouse in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

Justice Nicholas Hilliard emphasized the serious threat posed to national safety by the defendants' actions, which involved using the UK as a base for their spying activities, undermining the country's standing with allies.

Investigators uncovered over 100,000 Telegram messages that revealed the group's operations, including plans for surveillance and intelligence missions across Europe.

Commander Dominic Murphy of Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command described the group's activities as 'industrial-scale espionage' and noted the increasing trend of states outsourcing such operations.

Jan Marsalek, a former Wirecard executive and key figure in the spy ring, is believed to have acted as a liaison with Moscow and has been wanted by Interpol since 2020.

Despite evidence of his involvement, Roussev denied being a spy during police questioning, claiming there was 'no James Bond activity' on his part, yet he was ordered to repay £180,768 in illicit earnings.

During a raid on their hideout, authorities discovered a significant cache of spying equipment, including drones, eavesdropping devices, and counterfeit identity document-making supplies.

The group was also involved in gathering intelligence on high-profile targets, including investigative journalist Christo Grozev and a Kazakhstani dissident, as well as surveilling a US military base in Germany.

Although none of the targets were harmed, prosecutors highlighted that the group's actions endangered lives and compromised national security.

The espionage group executed dangerous operations targeting politicians and journalists in multiple countries, including the UK, Germany, and Spain, with discussions of kidnapping and assassination.

The trial also revealed personal drama among the accused, including a romantic love triangle that complicated their operations, with one defendant found naked in bed with another at the time of arrest.