Russian spy Orlin Roussev and Austrian national Jan Marsalek were found to have exchanged messages plotting to discredit award-winning journalist Christo Grozev in 2021. They discussed using a ‘honeypot’ trap involving London-based beautician Vanya Gaberova to seduce Grozev and potentially record something for Pornhub. Other options considered included robbing, kidnapping, and even killing Grozev.
Gaberova, recruited to spy on Grozev, traveled to Valencia to attend a conference where he was, alongside Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins. Roussev noted Grozev’s quick acceptance of Gaberova’s Facebook request and reported that he appeared to be ‘hooked and in love.’ They discussed slowly escalating the relationship and potentially capturing compromising material for Pornhub. Roussev described Gaberova as a ‘true sexy bitch’ and warned against her falling in love with Grozev.
Roussev and Marsalek believed that Grozev was not a pleasant person and discussed the characteristics of the ideal women for the operation. They also accused Gaberova of capturing surveillance images of Grozev and other journalists at the conference. Roussev and another defendant have pleaded guilty to spying for Russia, while Gaberova, Katrin Ivanova, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev are on trial for being part of the UK-based spy network. The group allegedly conducted six covert operations against individuals of interest to the Russian government.
Christo Grozev was targeted by the group due to his work exposing Russian links to the Salisbury poisoning in 2018 and the downing of a Malaysia Airlines plane in 2014. He was tracked across various locations, and surveillance pictures showed him arriving at Valencia airport and inside the Palace Hotel. The defendants have denied charges of conspiracy to spy and possession of false identity documents. The trial continues as prosecutors present evidence of the group’s activities.
The defendants’ alleged conspiracy to spy took place between August 2020 and February 2023, during which they targeted Grozev as their first ‘assignment’. The group conducted surveillance on him in various locations and attempted to manipulate his actions through a ‘honeypot’ operation involving Gaberova. The prosecutors claim that the group was involved in multiple covert operations against individuals of interest to Russia over the course of nearly three years.
Overall, the trial at the Old Bailey revealed the extent of the group’s efforts to infiltrate Grozev’s life and discredit him as a journalist. The discussions between Roussev, Marsalek, and Gaberova highlighted the tactics and strategies employed in the ‘honeypot’ operation. The revelation of their plans shed light on the lengths some individuals are willing to go to in order to silence journalists and manipulate information for political gain. The court proceedings continue as more evidence is presented to support the charges against the defendants.
