Britain backs Bulgaria after it dismantles Russia spy ring
BRITAIN has said it will back Bulgaria against “malign activity” after Sofia dismantled its first Russian spy ring since the end of the Second World War.
Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, said the group of spies, which used its leader’s wife to pass secrets to the Russian embassy, posed a “serious threat” to Nato and the European Union.
“We fully support Bulgaria’s efforts in disrupting an alleged spy ring and taking steps to tackle Russia’s hostile actions in its territory,” Mr Raab said yesterday.
Senior officials were among six Bulgarians charged with spying for Russia on Friday, including employees of the defence ministry and military intelligence.
It is the first such spy ring discovered in Bulgaria since the end of the Second World War, according to Ivan Geshev, the country’s chief prosecutor.
The group is accused of using a former senior official from Bulgarian military intelligence to devise a network of people with access to secret information on the EU, Nato and Bulgaria.
Intelligence was covertly divulged to an “employee of the Russian embassy” via the ringleader’s wife in return for money, the prosecutor’s office said.
They claim to have incriminating video tapes of the suspects.
One suspect attempted to escape as officials moved to arrest the group following a large-scale investigation that remains ongoing.
It is not the first time Bulgaria has “seen activities from foreign embassies which aren’t compatible with the Vienna Convention”, according to the foreign ministry.
The US State Department said it “strongly supports” Bulgaria’s sovereignty and is closely watching the case.
“The US stands with Bulgarians against these malign activities on their territory,” it added.
Russia condemned efforts to “demonise” the Kremlin and sever bilateral ties.
“We expect that speculation about Russia’s alleged involvement in intelligence work against Bulgaria’s interests will be halted until there is a court ruling,” a statement from the embassy said on Friday.