Alleged spy tells UK court she knew nothing of idea to kidnap Russian
Alleged spy tells UK court she knew nothing of idea to kidnap Russian
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Katrin Ivanova, giving evidence in her defence, is pressed by prosecutor over her response to partner’s message. A London-based lab technician accused of spying for Moscow has been questioned in court as to why she did not challenge her partner when he suggested they abduct or kill a man wanted by Russia for a €500,000 reward.
Katrin Ivanova, 33, was forwarded a message on 23 February 2022 suggesting that the money was on offer if she and other members of an alleged spy ring of Bulgarians living in the UK could capture Kirill Kachur, a Russian, in Montenegro. The message, sent by Bizer Dzhambazov, said: “They are offering a €500,000 reward plus 150,000 euro operating costs for this one’s head,” after a period of several weeks of attempted surveillance of Kachur in the Balkan country.
The message continued: “They said that if Kiril dies from an incident during his capture no one will get cross” and it suggested they “have a think” about how they might proceed, although there was no evidence that a kidnap plot developed. Alison Morgan KC, appearing for the prosecution, asked Ivanova under cross-examination why she did not immediately push back at the suggestion. “Where do we have the message from you [saying] this is unacceptable?” she said. “You knew perfectly well what is going on?”.
Ivanova replied “no” and Morgan pressed her again. She “knew nothing” about the idea of a kidnap, the prosecuting counsel asked, to which Ivanova repeated “no”. Morgan said: “Mr Dzhambazov is bringing you in on a secret,” and the defendant again replied “no”.
