Six jailed for roles in 'Minions' spy cell backed by Moscow

SIX Bulgarians have been jailed after being convicted of spying for Russia in one of the "largest and most complex" enemy operations uncovered on British soil.

- By Paul Jeeves Crime Editor

Ringleader Orlin Roussev, 47, who dubbed his underlings “Minions”, led the spy ring from a rundown former guesthouse in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. He was sentenced to 10 years and eight months yesterday.

The court had heard the network was directed by alleged Russian agent Jan Marsalek, 44, an Austrian businessman wanted by Interpol.

Marsalek acted as a go-between for Russian intelligence and Roussev, who led the operation in the UK.

Roussev had admitted his role along with his second-in-command, Biser Dzhambazov, 44, who was jailed for 10 years and two months and Ivan Stoyanov, 33, who got five years and three weeks in prison.

Female “honeytrap” agents Katrin Ivanova, 33, and Vanya Gaberova, 30,

'Their espionage was on an industrial scale'