Sixth person charged as part of Met investigation into alleged spying

A sixth person has been charged as part of a Met investigation into alleged spying offences linked to the Russian state.

Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 38 (31.07.85) of Acton, west London, is remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 28 February.

He is charged with conspiring to collect information intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy for a purpose prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state (contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977).

Ivanchev, a Bulgarian national, was arrested on 7 February 2024 as part of an ongoing investigation being led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

He was subsequently bailed, and then charged as above on Tuesday, 27 February.

Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “A sixth suspect was identified and arrested as a result of enquiries made following the previous five arrests in this investigation, and working with the Crown Prosecution Service, a charge has now been brought.

“Mr Ivanchev has the right to a fair trial, and we would therefore urge people not to publish anything - on social media or in news media - that creates a substantial risk of seriously prejudicing these active criminal proceedings.”

+ As part of the same investigation, five people have previously been arrested and charged, and are awaiting trial.

The following people were charged in September 2023 with the same offence under section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977:

- Orlin Roussev, 46 (06.02.1978) of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

- Bizer Maksimov Dzambarov, 42 (21.04.1981), of Harrow, north London

- Katrin Nikolayeva Ivanova, 33 (01.07.1991) of Harrow, north London

- Ivan Iliev Stoyanov, 32 (22.12.1991) of Greenford, west London

- Vanya Nikolaveva Gaberova, 29 (10.08.1994) of Euston, north London.

They are currently in custody, and are due to stand trial in October 2024.

The charge against Ivanchev reads as follows:

“Between the 30th day of August 2020 and the 8th day of February 2023 Tihomir IVANCHEV together with ORLIN ROUSSEV, BIZER MAKSIMOV DZHAMBAZOV, KATRIN IVANOVA, IVAN STOYANOV, VANYA GABEROVA conspired together and with Jan Marsalek, and others unknown, to obtain, collect, record, publish or communicate documents or information which was calculated to be, or might be or was intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy for a purpose prejudicial to the safety and interest of the State. Contrary to section 1 Criminal Law Act 1977.”