Vanya Gaberova was one of the Bulgarians convicted of spying for Russia (Image: East2west News)
Behind the scenes of an “industrial scale” spying operation was a twisted love triangle and a litany of lies.
Female spy Vanya Gaberova, 30, was “besotted” with Biser Dzhambazov, 43, who used her as a shield in his spying operations.
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The pair were arrested naked in bed together at Gaberova's flat on 8 February 2022.
But Dzhambazov was also in a relationship with fellow conspirator and “chief minion” Katrin Ivanova, 33.
Biser Dzhambazov and Vanya Gaberova (Image: PA)
Vanya Gaberova in spy glasses (Image: PA)
Katrin Ivanova (Image: PA)
Dzhambazov, who worked with ringleader Orlin Roussev to set tasks for other members of the network, faked having a brain tumour to sneak out from Ivanova to have sex with Gaberova.
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And Gaberova’s ex-boyfriend, Tihomir Ivanchev, 39, was also implicated in one of the biggest spying investigations in decades.
He helped fund her beauty parlour business, Pretty Woman, in Acton, west London. She was described as the "Queen of Lashes" and won awards for her work on eyelashes, the court heard.
But Gaberova told the Old Bailey how she was swept off her feet by Dzhambazov after spending four nights with him in Valencia, Spain, on a surveillance mission targeting journalist Christo Grozev.
And Ivanova broke down in tears in court after discovering Dzhambazov, "betrayed" her by having an 18-month affair with her fellow honeytrap.
Ivanova, who lived with Dzhambazov in Harrow, northwest London, said: "There was another man and Mr Dzhambazov knew and that is why when I found out he was in a relationship with Vanya, I do not understand. We have an open sexual relationship."
For Roussev and Jan Marsalek – the controlling agent in Moscow, Gaberova and Ivanova, dubbed “minions”, were tools that could be exploited.
Marsalek and Roussev praised beauty salon manager Gaberova as "very assertive and strongly independent". The Old Bailey was told Mr Roussev called her a "true sexy b----".
They said she could be used as part of a honeytrap operation to target journalist Grozev, an investigative journalist who exposed who poisoned double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.
As part of the honeytrap operation, Roussev suggested making a recording for a pornography website, saying Gaberova was "red hot" and a "swinger too”.
"They clearly considered that [Ms Gaberova] would be capable of pulling off a honeytrap operation without the risk that she would fall in love with [Mr Grozev]," said prosecutor Alison Morgan KC.
Gaberova told jurors she saw the surveillance missions as holidays with the “man of her dreams” who she believed was an Interpol agent.
Dzhambazov had told Gaberova he had a brain tumour and was receiving treatment for it throughout their relationship, the Old Bailey has heard.
On her first impression, Gaberova said: "He was very loud. He talk most of the time. The soul of the gathering.
"He is charming... For him it's important that you like him."
In his closing speech Anthony Metzer, KC, defending Gaberova, told jurors: “Mr Dzhambazov was clearly capable of serious long-term lying, and one thing she did not doubt and had no reason to doubt was that he was an Interpol agent.
“He told her falsely that he had cancer and lied and lied repeatedly over the 18 months they were together.
“She was acting under the direct and total control of Mr Dzhambazov at that time in 2022.
“You may safely conclude he has behaved despicably around her.
“You know that she was found in bed with him after her arrest, which may suggest that he continued to hold sway over her in February 2023.”
Mr Metzer said the reality was that Ms Gaberova was “completely besotted with Dzhambazov, and it clouded her judgement while carrying out surveillance.
“Even highly intelligent people can have their judgement clouded by love,” he said.
“She was loyal to a devastating fault.”
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Biser Dzhambazov wearing a protective vest (Image: PA)
Vanya Gaberova crying (Image: PA)
If Dzhambazov was able to lie about his cancer, then he could also have maintained his lie about working as an Interpol agent, the court heard.
“She was simply, and I hope she will forgive me for saying this, she was a guileless, naive beautician from a small town in Bulgaria,” said Mr Metzer.
Ivanova earlier told jurors she treated surveillance of Ukrainian soldiers on a US army base as a 'romantic holiday' and found videos from inside the base in Stuttgart, Germany, on YouTube.
She first heard about Gaberova when Dzhambazov told her he would be the best man at her wedding to his friend, Tihomir Ivanchev.
Ivanova said she was due to move with Dzhambazov to a flat in Euston, central London, which she had decorated and bought a bed for.
She told the court she had trusted Dzhambazov "with my life" but added: "I understand now that he was living a double life and having another relationship not only with me but with my co-defendant."
Ivanova said Dzhambazov described Grozev as a "corrupt hypocrite" associated with an arms dealer who was trying to "steal Bulgarian lands".
Roussev funded the trip and was going to set up a website publicising their work, she told the court.
Dzhambazov and Gaberova worked together in 2021 when Bulgarian President Rumen Radev was elected.
Ivanova told jurors that someone at the Bulgarian Embassy in London had contacted her about helping to sign off votes at a polling station but she never shared with officials her concerns about corruption.
Ms Morgan asked: "So thinking now and knowing you are a dishonest person, do you think you should have been signing off on that document on the number of votes cast in the Bulgarian election?
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"You are the corruption, aren't you?"
The defendant denied it. Ms Morgan said: "You are a very educated, intelligent woman, Ms Ivanova, and this is your home country you care about so much. What was the name of the Bulgarian president in 2021?"
Ivanova repeatedly said she did not know the president's name.