Beautiful Virgin Islands

Friday, May 09, 2025

Bulgarian Spies Convicted in Operation Targeting Russian Journalist Roman Dobrokhotov

Convictions highlight the risks faced by investigative journalists exposing state-sponsored actions.
Roman Dobrokhotov, editor-in-chief of the investigative website The Insider, has stated he feels fortunate to be alive following a reported assassination plot against him orchestrated by a Russian spy cell.

This group, comprising Bulgarian agents, operated from a site in Norfolk, UK, and was recently convicted for their espionage activities.

The Bulgarian nationals were found guilty of conspiracy to spy and had been tracking both Dobrokhotov and fellow journalist Christo Grozev throughout Europe.

Dobrokhotov suspects that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally initiated this operation against him, which he attributes to their investigative work exposing key incidents linked to Russian state actions, including the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2020 and the Novichok nerve agent attack in Salisbury in 2018. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that the spy ring was particularly focused on Grozev, whom they deemed a significant threat due to his investigative reports.

Communications from Jan Marsalek, who directed the spy cell for Russian intelligence, revealed a detailed interest in Grozev.

Messages from Marsalek indicated that despite personal assessments of Grozev's value as a target, Putin had a vested interest in their activities against him.

Following the revelations of their 2020 investigations, efforts intensified to surveil both journalists, with reports of plans that included potential kidnapping.

Throughout 2021 and 2022, Dobrokhotov and Grozev were reportedly surveilled during air travel and at their accommodations.

In early 2023, Dobrokhotov received warnings not to leave the country due to the perceived danger posed by the Bulgarian spies following him.

They were able to gather personal information to the extent of witnessing his mobile phone's PIN on one occasion.

The convicted individuals, including Vanya Gaberova, Katrin Ivanova, Tihomir Ivanchev, Orlin Roussev, and Biser Dzhambazov, faced severe penalties for their roles, with Ivanova also charged with possessing false identity documents.

Another suspect, Ivan Stoyanov, pled guilty to spying.

Dobrokhotov has voiced concerns about the nature of the threats posed by foreign espionage networks and the risk these incidents symbolize for journalists investigating government malfeasance.

He emphasized the dangers of living in a political climate where being a journalist can lead to life-threatening repercussions.

He describes the current geopolitical environment as one where only a few might survive the intensified conflicts between state powers and dissenting voices.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Historic Papal Conclave Set to Commence in Rome
Huge Copper, Gold, and Silver Discovery in Argentina and Chile — But the Profits Go Abroad
Prince Harry is pleading for reconciliation — but the royals are just as sick of his victimhood as everyone else
The Road to Freedom: She Protested Putin, Escaped House Arrest, and Survived a 2,800-Kilometer Journey
OpenAI's Flip-Flop: No Longer Going Commercial, Back to Nonprofit, After Musk Lawsuit and Backlash
“Trump Supporter” Aims to Bring a MAGA-Style Shift to Romania
First From China: Zhao Xintong Wins the Snooker World Championship
Nvidia Faces Billion-Dollar Losses – Warns: China Is on Its Way to Becoming an AI Superpower
Trump Rules Out Third Term, Names JD Vance and Marco Rubio as Potential Successors
Mexico Says ‘No’ to U.S. Troops: President Sheinbaum Rejects Trump’s Offer to Fight Cartels
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Storms the Map, Wrecking the Two-Party Monopoly
DOGE: Reimagining Government Operations with AI
Common Sense Returns to Britain's Legal System: UK Supreme Court Declares a Woman Is… a Woman
Beijing Says U.S. Is ‘Reaching Out’ for Tariff Talks Amid Soaring Trade Tensions
U.K. Court Rejects Prince Harry’s Final Appeal Over Police Security
Prince Harry’s Heartfelt Outburst Rocks the Royal Family
Trump Shares AI-Generated Image of Himself as… Pope, Prompting Outrage Reaction
Transgender Swimmer Secures Five Gold Medals at U.S. Masters Championship
Prince Harry: “I Want Reconciliation with My Family”
Germany's Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has now been officially labeled “right-wing extremist” by the federal office for the so-called “protection of the constitution.”
Amazon Launches Satellite Internet Service Amidst Competition with SpaceX
Transformative Changes in Women's Wrestling: The Rise of WWE Superstars
The Rush to the White Gold: Global Investment Surge in Natural Hydrogen Exploration
This is a day in Spain without electricity and internet
Reform UK Surprises in British Elections, Challenging Traditional Two-Party System
180-Year-Old Christian University in South Carolina Announces Closure Due to Unmet $6 Million Fundraising Goal
Brazilian Woman Jailed for Fourteen Years for Writing “You Lost, Idiot” on Statue During Protest
Trump Administration Removes National Security Adviser Mike Waltz Amid Signal Chat Controversy
Dutch Politician Eva Vlaardingerbroek Receives Spyware Threat Alert from Apple
Paramount Board Considers Settlement in Trump’s $20 Billion Lawsuit Over "60 Minutes" Interview
U.S. Economy Shrink in Trump’s First Quarter as Tariff Policy Raises Questions
Deadline Looms for RTS Meter Replacement: Hundreds of Thousands at Risk of Heating Disruption
Sweden Grapples with Deadly Gun Violence: Suspect Arrested After Three Young Men Killed in Uppsala Hair Salon
Walz Reveals Why Harris Chose Him as Her Running Mate and Reflects on Democratic Losses
Spain Restores Power After Unprecedented Nationwide Blackout
Carney Secures Liberal Mandate in Canada’s Federal Election
Death Penalty Sought as Luigi Manion Pleads Not Guilty in CEO Murder Case
President Trump contacts Jeff Bezos after reports of Amazon considering listing tariff surcharges; company clarifies no such plan for main platform
Spain and Portugal Recover from Massive Blackout
Liverpool Clinches Record-Equalling 20th English League Title Under Arne Slot
Singapore Politicians Warn Against Foreign Interference in Election
Driver Ploughs into Vancouver Festival Crowd, Killing Nine
Depression, Fear of Defamation, and a Tragic End: New Details on Virginia Giuffre’s Suicide
“Sharia for UK, Allah Akbar!”
Massive Explosion at Iran's Bandar Abbas Port Linked to Suspicious Chemical Shipments
Incident Reflection: A Harsh Reality Check
Pakistani migrants to Danish man: “ “We have 5 children while you have 1 or 2. In 10 years, there will be more Pakistanis than Danes here.“
Clashes Erupt in London as Tensions Rise Between Indian and Pakistani Communities
Specialized anti-drone weapons deployed among security personnel Ahead of Papal Funeral
How do you fix this culture?
×