Spy ring leader operating from Great Yarmouth tried to 'keep the Russians happy', court told
The Bulgarian ringleader of a UK-based spy network always tried to "service the needs...of the Russian paymaster" and "keep the Russians happy", a court heard.
Orlin Roussev, 47, and his five 'Minions' - the children's characters whose name they used as an in-joke - they are facing jails terms for their part in a Russian spy ring operated from a former seaside guesthouse in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
On Wednesday, the Old Bailey heard Roussev had shown his intent to 'keep the Russians happy' by making a 'genuine statement' of things he was prepared to do when he received information of a possible kidnapping target.
The 47-year-old is due to be sentenced along with "honeytrap" agents Katrin Ivanova, 33, and Vanya Gaberova, 30 and competitive swimmer Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, who were found guilty in March of spying on an 'industrial scale', putting lives and national security at risk.
Biser Dzhambazov, 44, Roussev's second-in-command, and Ivan Stolyanov, 33, admitted their roles and are also due to be sentenced.
The court heard Roussev replied to a message about potentially kidnapping a target by saying: 'If you are serious about it, I have the resources to kidnap, drug him and lock him up in a secure cave.'
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said of the message: 'It is absolutely plain that there is no coherent or detailed plan of how such a kidnapping would take place, but it is undoubtedly the case that if there is a prospect of it being what Russia wants, the prosecution submits Mr Roussev is making it plain he will find the resources – he is capable.
'We submit that is consistent to his character, which is to always try and service the needs, service the requests of the Russian paymaster.
'It is a genuine statement of the things he is prepared to do or facilitate to keep the Russians happy.'
The court also heard how Roussev had contemplated acquiring the services of actor Sacha Baron Cohen for a fake protest at the Kazakhstan embassy in London.
The Old Bailey previously heard the spy network plotted to spray fake blood on the embassy and create the pretence that the spies had genuine intelligence about activists to pass on to Kazakhstan intelligence services, to enable Russia to 'gain favour' with government officials.
The sentencing hearing is due to last until Monday.
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