Five individuals accused of conspiring to gather sensitive information for a foreign enemy between 2020 and 2023.

Five Bulgarian nationals have been charged with spying for Russia and are set to appear in court today. The individuals—three men and two women—are accused of conspiring to gather sensitive information that could be useful to a foreign enemy. The alleged activities took place between August 2020 and February 2023.

The five suspects are Orlin Roussev, 45, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk; Bizer Dzhambazov, 41, and Katrin Ivanova, 31, both from Harrow, northwest London; Ivan Stoyanov, 31, from Greenford, west London; and Vanya Gaberova, 29, from Churchway, northwest London. They have been charged with conspiracy to conduct espionage for the benefit of a foreign power.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorized the charges on September 21. Additionally, Roussev, Dzhambazov, and Ivanova were previously charged in February 2023 with possessing false identity documents for improper purposes under the Identity Documents Act of 2010.

The group was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Counter-Terrorism Command in February, under the Official Secrets Act. They are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today to face the charges.