Two Bulgarian spies who operated as part of an 'industrial scale' espionage network for Russia have been released from prison and deported from the United Kingdom, the Daily Express can reveal. Vanya Gaberova, known as the 'Queen of lashes' for her beauty industry awards, and Ivan Stoyanov were booted out after serving a year in custody.
Sentences and release
Gaberova was sentenced to six years in May 2025, while Stoyanov received five years and three weeks for working with Russian intelligence officers. However, both were released at the halfway point of their terms, having already spent significant time on remand before trial. Investigative journalist Christo Grozev, one of the gang's targets, said: 'Two of the spies who last year received long sentences in Britain for spying on me and Roman Dobrokhotov and plotting to kidnap or murder us, have been set free by the UK after serving their mandatory half-sentence. I wish someone had bothered to inform the targets.'
The spy ring
The operation was run by former Wirecard chief Jan Marsalek, who acted as a go-between for Russian intelligence and ringleader Orlin Roussev in Great Yarmouth. Roussev received more than 200,000 euros (over £165,600) to fund the spying activities. The group, dubbed the 'Minions', included second-in-command Dzhambazov, who was involved in a love triangle with his partner Ivanova and beautician Gaberova, jurors heard.
Targets and plots
The spies were ordered to surveil an American military base in Germany, believed to be training Ukrainian troops on Patriot missiles after Russia's invasion. They planned to use IMSI catchers to identify soldiers' mobile phones on the base, allowing their movements to be tracked when they later served in Ukraine. This would have enabled Kremlin forces to pinpoint locations and order artillery attacks on Ukrainians. The gang also plotted to kidnap journalists on UK soil, stage fake attacks against Kazakhstan's embassy in London so Putin's secret services could intervene, and sell military equipment to China, the Old Bailey heard.
Government response
A Government spokesperson said: 'This Government is prioritising the deportation of foreign national offenders with more than 9,800 removed since July 2024 – up 36% on the previous 21 months. The Sentencing Act also introduced tougher sentencing for those found guilty of compromising our national security for a foreign state, meaning offenders could now face longer behind bars and stricter monitoring once released.'
