LONDON — Three Bulgarian nationals face criminal charges amid a British police investigation into suspected spying on behalf of Russia.
In February, officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Operations Unit arrested five people on suspicion of an offense under the U.K.’s Official Secrets Act, according to a statement from the force.
Three people have subsequently been charged “with possession of false identity documents with improper intention” under the Identity Documents Act, the Met said.
The charges were first reported by the BBC on Tuesday. The broadcaster said the arrests took place as part of a “major national security investigation” and that it is alleged those held “were working for the Russian security services.”
The Metropolitan Police named the individuals as 45-year-old Orlin Roussev, 42-year-old Biser Dzambazov and Katrin Ivanova, 32.
The defendants last appeared at London’s Central Criminal Court on July 31 and were remanded in custody. According to the Foresight News agency, they will next appear in court on September 28 — with a trial expected in January next year.
According to the BBC, the trio have lived in the U.K. for years and worked in a variety of jobs while living in suburban properties. Two live in north-west London, with the third in Norfolk.
