Russian spying ring ‘plotted to kidnap and assassinate journalist’ in ‘honeytrap’ scheme [Video]

29 November 2024, 05:24

A Russian spy ring based in the UK discussed kidnapping and killing an investigative journalist, a court has heard.

Bulgarian nationals Katrin Ivanova, 33, Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, are accused of carrying out extensive surveillance on Kremlin enemies across Europe.

That includes a discussion about seizing and assassinating a journalist for the investigative outlet Bellingcat.

The defendants have denied a charge of conspiracy to spy between August 30 2020 and February 8 2023.

Opening the trial on Thursday, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC told jurors: “They were targeting people and places where the information that they obtained would be of particular use to Russia.

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“It …