Bulgarian honeytrap ring targeted dissidents from coast guesthouse

SIX Bulgarian spies who plotted honeytrap stings to snare their targets for Russia have been sentenced to more than 50 years.

- BY TOM PETTIFOR Crime Editor

Ringleader Orlin Roussev, 47, who led the espionage ring from a rundown seaside guesthouse, was sentenced to 10 years and eight months yesterday. After his arrest, Roussev initially denied spying for Russia, telling police: "No James Bond activity on my end, I guarantee you."

His network used secret cameras including one stuffed inside a toy Minion from the film Despicable Me and another in a Coca-Cola bottle - recording devices and GPS trackers to snoop on Russian dissidents and anti-Kremlin journalists.

Carrying out six operations over nearly three years, they tried to lure investigative reporters with suggestive pictures and plotted to make a porno-graphic film for one target to upload.