Latest news with #ChristoGrozev
New York Times
6 days ago
- General
- New York Times
The Man Putin Couldn't Kill
Supported by Interpol had been looking for a disgraced finance executive for weeks when Christo Grozev, an investigative journalist, found him, hiding in Belarus. Grozev had become expert at following all but invisible digital trails — black-market cellphone data, passenger manifests, immigration records — in order to unmask Russian spies. These were the sleeper cells living in Western countries and passing as natives, or the people dispatched to hunt down dissidents around the world. He identified the secret police agents behind one of the most high-profile assassination plots of all: the 2020 poisoning of the Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny. That revelation put Grozev in President Vladimir Putin's cross hairs. He wanted Grozev killed, and to make it happen the Kremlin turned to none other than the fugitive financier, who, it turns out, had been recruited by Russian intelligence. Now the man that Grozev had been tracking began tracking him. The fugitive enlisted a team to begin the surveillance. The members of that team are behind bars now. The financier lives in Moscow, where several times a week he makes visits to the headquarters of the Russian secret police. Grozev — still very much alive — imagines the man trying to explain to his supervisors why he failed in his mission. This gives Grozev a small measure of satisfaction. On May 12, after a lengthy trial, Justice Nicholas Hilliard of the Central Criminal Court in London sentenced six people, all of them Bulgarian nationals, to prison terms between five and almost 11 years for their involvement in the plot to kill Grozev, among other operations. The group had spent more than two years working out of England, where the ringleader maintained rooms full of false identity documents and what the prosecution called law-enforcement-grade surveillance equipment. In addition to spying on Grozev and his writing partner, the Russian journalist Roman Dobrokhotov, the Bulgarians spied on a U.S. military base in Germany where Ukrainian soldiers were being trained; they trailed a former Russian law enforcement officer who had fled to Europe; and most embarrassingly for Moscow, they planned a false flag operation against Kazakhstan, a Russian ally. In the past two decades England has been the site of at least two high-profile deadly operations and more than a dozen other suspicious deaths that have been linked to Russia. Yet the trial of this six-person cell appears to be the first time in recent history that authorities have successfully investigated and prosecuted Russian agents operating on British soil. The trial and its outcome, then, are victories. They are small ones, however, relative to the scope of the threat. The Bulgarians seem to be only one part of a multiyear, multicountry operation to kill Grozev. That in turn is only a small part of what appears to be an ever-broadening campaign by the Kremlin, including kidnappings, poisonings, arson and terrorist attacks, to silence its opponents and sow fear abroad. The story of the resources that were marshaled to silence a single inconvenient voice is a terrifying reminder of what Putin, and beyond him the rising generation of autocratic rulers, are capable of. The story of how that single voice refused to be silenced — in fact redoubled his determination to tell the truth, regardless of the very real consequences — serves as a reminder that it's possible to continue to speak and act in the face of mortal danger. But the damage that was done to Grozev's own life and the lives of the people around him is a warning of how vulnerable we are in the face of unchecked, murderous power. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Independent
08-05-2025
- The Independent
Journalist targeted by Russian spy ring said ordeal was ‘deeply detabilising'
A journalist targeted by a Russian spy ring operating out of a rundown UK guesthouse has said the surveillance on him was 'terrifying, disorientating and deeply destabilising'. Bellingcat investigative journalist Christo Grozev submitted a victim impact statement to the court in which he said the 'damage' caused by the Bulgarian nationals involved in the spy network was 'ongoing'. Female 'honeytrap' agents Katrin Ivanova, 33, and Vanya Gaberova, 30, and competitive swimmer Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, were found guilty at the Old Bailey in March of spying on an 'industrial scale', putting lives and national security at risk. They are due to face sentencing at the same court, alongside ringleader Orlin Roussev, 47, his second-in-command Biser Dzhambazov, 44, and Ivan Stoyanov, 33, who admitted their roles. On the second day of the four-day sentencing hearing, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC also spoke of how Kazakhstan dissident Bergey Ryskaliyev had been forced to hire private security due to the threat posed by the defendants. Ms Morgan first read Mr Grozev's statement to the court on Thursday: 'Their surveillance and targeting have had a profound and enduring impact on both my personal and professional life, as well as the lives of my family members. ' Learning only in retrospect that foreign agents have been monitoring my movements, communications and home, surveying my loved ones over an extended period – has been terrifying, disorientating and deeply destabilising. 'The consequences have not faded with time – they have fundamentally changed how I live my daily life and how I relate to the world around me.' Mr Grozev was targeted after he exposed Russian links to the Novichok poisoning and the downing of a Malaysia Airlines plane in July 2014. He was followed from Vienna to a conference in Valencia in Spain, with Ivanova able to get close enough on the plane to record the PIN number on his phone with a camera on the strap of her bag after the spies acquired his flight manifest. Ms Morgan said Mr Grozev has had to 'change day-to-day routines' because he 'may still be at risk from others operating in the UK and elsewhere'. Mr Grozev said his work as a journalist has also been impacted as some of his sources now feel unable to speak with him because they are 'too afraid'. His statement concluded: 'The actions of these individuals have had a deep, lasting and destabilising effect on my life and the lives of those I love. 'The consequences are not easily reversed – for my family and me, the damage is ongoing.' Ms Morgan said Mr Ryskaliyev felt 'concerned that the threat has not been fully eliminated' despite the defendants being arrested. His statement read: 'Suspicious individuals continue to appear near my home and workplace, which emphasises the need to stay vigilant.' Mr Ryskaliyev was under surveillance from the spy ring at two west London addresses, One Hyde Park in Knightsbridge and Warwick Chambers, the court previously heard. The court was also told that targeting Mr Ryskaliyev in November 2021 would have helped Kazakhstan and served to cultivate relations with Russia. Speaking about his family, Mr Ryskaliyev said: 'Despite the fear, we do not allow it to paralyse us. 'As a result of the threat, I've had to put enhanced security measures in place – these include hiring private security and changing the logistics of my movements.' He said, despite the significant cost of having security, Mr Ryskaliyev said: 'It is a necessary investment in our safety.' Mr Ryskaliyev said his friends and family had previously confronted Stoyanov when he had sat outside his address, adding that the fact that it was Russia conducting surveillance 'was more concerning and felt more threatening'. His statement continued: 'I'm grateful to the United Kingdom for granting me asylum and protection. 'This country has become my second home, and I feel it is my moral duty to protect it.' Mr Ryskaliyev concluded: 'We will not be intimidated. We will fight. We will expose. We will protect those who have chosen freedom and justice.' The spy ring was directed by alleged agent Jan Marsalek, 44, an Austrian businessman wanted by Interpol after the collapse of German payment processing firm Wirecard. Marsalek acted as a go-between for Russian intelligence and Roussev, who led the operation from a former guesthouse in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. It is believed to be one of the 'largest and most complex' enemy operations to be uncovered on UK soil. The network engaged in a series of surveillance and intelligence operations over three years in which spies were referred to as Minions – characters from the animated film Despicable Me. Roussev deployed the Minions with second-in-command Dzhambazov, who was in a love triangle with two of the team – his partner Ivanova and beautician Gaberova, jurors heard. Spyware was recovered from the seaside hotel, described by Roussev in messages as his 'Indiana Jones garage' – including audiovisual spy devices hidden inside a rock, men's ties, a Coke bottle and a Minions cuddly toy. The defendants, who are in custody, face sentences of up to 14 years in jail for the activities in the UK, Austria, Spain, Germany and Montenegro.
The Independent
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Moment journalist targeted by Russian spy ring discovers list of ‘assassination methods' to kill him
This is the moment a journalist targeted by a Russian spy ring discovers a list of 'assassination methods' they drew up to kill him. Bulgarian Christo Grozev has been filmed by Channel 4 and Passion Pictures the last three years, as part of a special documentary, Kill List: Hunted by Putin 's Spies. Mr Grozev, who has published several exposés on Russia, is filmed as he is shown the messages from Bulgarian spies planning to kill him. 'It's clearly very distressing to read,' Mr Grozev says as he looks through the plans.
The Guardian
24-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Russia's spies: Uncovering Russia's secret espionage programmes
How is Russia using deep undercover agents, known as 'illegals' to infiltrate the West? How has Moscow pivoted in recent years from using trained professional spies to recruiting casual operatives for one-time sabotage operations? What are the goals of Russia's increasingly deadly sabotage campaign, including arson attacks, exploding parcels and even assassination attempts? Join our expert panel including Christo Grozev, Daniela Richterova and The Guardian's Shaun Walker, live in London and online. They'll take us into a world of shadows and mystery to uncover the gripping history and present-day operations of Russia's spy programme – as explored in Walker's new book, The Illegals. The panel will also discuss the methods and sources they have used to uncover some of Russia's most secret operations and fully understand Russia's clandestine malign activities, looking further back in history – to the Cold War and into the long and chequered past of Russia's spy programmes. Shaun Walker is the Guardian's central and eastern Europe correspondent. His new book, The Illegals, shines new light on Russia's most secretive espionage project. Through hundreds of interviews and access to never-before-seen archives, it blows open the secrets of the biggest group of deep-cover spies in intelligence history. Daniela Richterova is the senior lecturer in Intelligence Studies at the Department of War Studies in King's College London. She has worked on the history of Eastern Bloc sabotage operations, and how that heritage informs present-day Russian tactics. Christo Grozev is an award-winning investigative journalist who has busted numerous Russian spies with his groundbreaking investigations for Bellingcat and The Insider. He was the first to identify the suspects in the Novichok poisoning of Sergei Skripal in 2018. The late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, whose poisoning he also investigated, described him as 'a modern-day Sherlock Holmes'. You can join this event in-person at a Central London location or via the livestream. Tickets are £35 to attend the event in person, or £15 to watch it online. See tickets for further details. Book tickets – in person or livestream Date: Thursday 22 May 2025Time: 7.30pm-9pm (BST) Or see this time zone converter to check your local live streaming Central London location, details will be notified to ticket holders closer to the eventAccessibility: The venue is fully wheelchair accessible. If you have any access requirements you are eligible for 1 x free companion ticket, to notify us of this and your requirements, please email If you miss this live event, a recording will be sent to you. It will be available for two weeks so you can catch-up or revisit the event in your own time. What are the terms and conditions? By proceeding, you agree to the Guardian Live events Terms and Conditions. To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy. How do I access a livestream event? This event will be hosted on a third-party live streaming platform Vimeo, please refer to their privacy policy and terms and conditions before purchasing a ticket to the event. After registering, please refer to your confirmation email for access to the event. Will there be closed captions available? Yes closed captions will be available for this event. Guardian Live brings you closer to the big stories, award-winning journalists, and leading thinkers in livestreamed and interactive events that you can access from wherever you are in the world. To stay informed, sign up to our newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram.
CNN
19-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Journalist on Russia's ‘wanted list' breaks down ‘alpha male' message from Putin to Trump
Christo Grozev, an investigative journalist on Russia's "wanted list", joins CNN's Erin Burnett to discuss the call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin where they negotiated a month-long mutual pause on attacks against 'energy infrastructure,' which Putin has already violated.
