Russian spies 'in plot to drop pigs' blood on the Kazakhstan embassy'

by · Mail Online

Russian spies planned to drop pigs’ blood on the Kazakhstan embassy in London from drones in a ‘staged’ protest, a court heard.

The gang also allegedly discussed creating ‘deep fake porn’ of the son of Kassym Tokayev, the Kazakh president, or setting him up with a ‘honeytrap’.

The plan was for the spies to offer information to the Kazakh secret services on the alleged perpetrators and ultimately to gain favour with Tokayev’s officials. 

Alison Morgan KC, prosecuting, told the Old Bailey: ‘The plan was for demonstrations... to make it look like the Russians were prepared to help Kazakhstan and promote their long-term relationship. The protest is entirely staged, it is all fake.’

It is alleged Orlin Roussev, 46, ran the operation from a guesthouse in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and took instructions from Austrian Jan Marsalek, who is wanted in connection with a £1.6billion fraud.

The UK-based Bulgarians are said to have included London trio Katrin Ivanova, 33, a lab assistant, Vanya Gaberova, 30, a beautician, and Tihomir Ivanchev, 39, a decorator.

In 2022, Marsalek messaged Roussev to say that, with 100 litres of pig blood, the ‘idea is we film it saying it’s the blood of innocent Kazakh people which the president has on his hands’.

Undated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of Orlin Roussev, who has pleaded guilty to espionage charges and accepted having fake identity documents, the Old Bailey was told.
Vanya Gaberova is also accused of being part of a highly sophisticated spying network, run by a Russian agent named as Jan Marsalek, which targeted people including dissidents

Roussev nicknamed his gang the ‘Vampire team’ but Ms Morgan added: ‘All the chat did not lead to the fake protest.’

Biser Dzhambazov, 43, from London, and Roussev have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to collect information useful to an enemy. 

Gaberova, Ivanova and Ivanchev, deny the charges.

The trial continues.