Russian Spy Plot Targeted Kazakhstan Embassy and Journalists in London

Court hears details of a staged protest, surveillance operations, and attempts to undermine Kazakhstan officials and investigative journalists.

A Russian spy network planned to spray fake or pig's blood on the Kazakhstan embassy in London using drones as part of a staged protest to curry favor with Kazakhstan's government.
The operation aimed to create false intelligence on activists, which Russia could provide to Kazakhstan as evidence of support, while also targeting the Kazakh president’s family with smear campaigns and deep fake videos.
The spy ring, led by UK-based Orlin Roussev, also discussed targeting investigative journalists, including Christo Grozev and Roman Dobrokhotov, with surveillance, honeytraps, and even abduction plans.
Prosecutors revealed encrypted messages between Roussev and Russian handler Jan Marsalek, detailing elaborate schemes involving fake protests, media campaigns, and intelligence-gathering on dissidents.
Two defendants have pleaded guilty to espionage charges, while three others deny involvement in the alleged three-year conspiracy targeting individuals and interests linked to Russia.