British authorities have deported two Bulgarian citizens who were part of a Russian spy network. The deportation took place after they had served half of their court-imposed prison sentences.
According to sources, the individuals are Vanya Gaberova and Ivan Stoyanov. They were members of a group of six Bulgarians convicted in London in May 2025 on charges of espionage for Russia. The group carried out intelligence activities across Europe, including surveillance of journalists, former politicians, and military sites.
Gaberova was sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in prison, while Stoyanov received 5 years and 3 weeks. Under British law, foreign nationals are subject to automatic deportation after serving half of their sentence.
The spy ring was uncovered in 2023 during a major operation by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command. The group members, including leader Orlin Rusev, used sophisticated surveillance equipment, fake documents, and coordinated their activities from the UK.
Three members of the group — Gaberova, Katrin Ivanova, and Tihomir Ivanchev — were found guilty following a trial at the Old Bailey. The others pleaded guilty. The total prison time for all six exceeded 50 years.
The deportation of the two spies has sparked discussions in Bulgaria and among European journalists who were targeted by the surveillance. One of them, journalist Christo Grozev, noted that the release and expulsion followed mandatory rules after serving half the sentence.
British authorities emphasize that such measures are aimed at protecting national security and preventing further activities by foreign agents on UK territory.