A man from Norfolk who has pleaded guilty to spying for Russia in the UK discussed killing an investigative journalist, the Old Bailey has been told. 

Orlin Roussev, 46, from Great Yarmouth, and Biser Dzhambazov, 43, from London admitted conspiracy to spy and it is the first time that their pleas have been able to be reported. 

In February 2023 Roussev was arrested at his address in Princes Road for offences contrary to the Official Secrets Act. 

Bulgarian nationals Katrin Ivanova, 33, Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, have all denied a charge of conspiracy to spy. 

Roussev was part of a spy ring that passed information to Russia for nearly three years and allegedly discussed kidnapping and even killing journalist Christo Grozev who uncovered Russian links to the 2018 Salisbury attack and the downing of a Malaysia Airlines plane in July 2014.

The Bulgarian journalist was tracked across Vienna, in Austria, Valencia, in Spain, and Montenegro, but only recognised Gaberova as she had sent him a Facebook request, jurors heard.

The Russian agent and Roussev discussed placing a spy next to him on a flight from Vienna to Valencia via a telegram chat. 

They discussed robbing him, burning his property, kidnapping him and taking him to Moscow, infiltrating Bellingcat and even killing him, jurors were told.

Opening the trial on Thursday, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC told jurors: “They were targeting people and places where the information that they obtained would be of particular use to Russia.

“It was highly sensitive information. By gathering the information and passing it on to the Russian state, the defendants were putting many lives at risk.

“By conducting activity of this type, planned on UK soil, these defendants were acting in a way that was prejudicial to the safety and interests of the UK.”

Mr Justice Hilliard adjourned the trial until Monday.