Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Court rules that group accused of spying for Russia remain in custody

Photo: BTA

After all-night hearings, the military court ruled that the 5 people detained on charges of espionage for the benefit of Russia remain in custody, BTA reports. One member of the group made a confession and was released on bail on the day he was detained.

Among those detained is former military officer Ivan Iliev whom the prosecutor’s office is charging as leader of the group, his wife, who has dual-citizenship and who is accused of serving as contact with the Russian embassy in Sofia and the deputy head of the Defence Ministry’s budget department colonel Petar Petrov. The court rulings are subject to appeal.

The reason why the court sat through the night was the fact that the lawyers for the defendants requested to get acquainted with the evidence collected by the prosecution. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Premier Zhelyzakov: The governance program is ready and will be reviewed in the next days

"The governance program will be discussed later this week at a meeting of the Council of Ministers, and I hope it will address all questions and expectations from the public'', announced Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov. He also commented on the..

published on 2/19/25 12:07 PM
Premier Rosen Zhelyazkov

Premier Zhelyazkov to participate at the European meeting on Ukraine via videoconference

On February 19,  Bulgaria’s Premier Rosen Zhelyazkov will participate in the second emergency meeting on Ukraine, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, the Bulgarian government said in a press release. Bulgaria received an invitation from..

published on 2/19/25 10:14 AM

The topic of the so-called ''Shopi nation'' was discussed in Bosilegrad

A forum was held at the BTA press club in Bosilegrad, provoked by the attempts to promote the so-called ''Shopi nation'' in the Western Outlands. MPs, diplomats and representatives of the academic community from Bulgaria took part in the discussion...

published on 2/19/25 9:51 AM