I'm lucky to be alive, says journalist tracked by Russian spies

Journalist Roman Dobrokhotov revealed to the BBC that he feels "lucky to be alive." The journalist was targeted by a Russian spy ring operating out of a former guesthouse in Norfolk. Dobrokhotov believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally ordered actions against him, demonstrating the extent of the Kremlin's reach.

Dobrokhotov is the editor-in-chief of The Insider. He stated that he had been followed across Europe by Bulgarian spies working for Moscow. Three of them were convicted last Friday. Dobrokhotov told the BBC, "I'm lucky to be alive," highlighting the very real danger he faced.

The Russian journalist believes that he and his investigative journalist colleague, Bulgarian Christo Grozev, were targeted because they exposed Russia's role in a series of deadly events, including the 2018 nerve agent attack in Salisbury and the 2020 attack on the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Their work had clearly struck a nerve within the Russian establishment.

In December 2020, on the same day that the investigative team Bellingcat released its investigation into Navalny's poisoning, the person in charge of the Russian spy team sent a message stating, "We are interested in the Bulgarian Christo Grozev who works for Bellingcat." Jan Marsalek, representing Russian intelligence services in directing the spy ring, wrote that Grozev was the "main investigator in the Navalny case." Dobrokhotov said that it was at that moment that they became the focus of attention, as Putin was deeply disturbed by what was being revealed.

"I think it was a direct order from Putin," he said. "Under such an autocracy, you never take responsibility yourself to do such political things. You always get a direct order from the president." A message from Marsalek to spy Orlin Roussev indicated that he understood Putin's thinking. Roussev managed the UK-based spy ring from a former guesthouse in Norfolk. Marsalek wrote, "I personally don't think Grozev is a very valuable target, but obviously Putin hates him very much," revealing the personal animosity driving the operation.

After 2020, the spy ring tracked Grozev and Dobrokhotov throughout Europe, monitoring them on planes, in hotels, and in private residences. They discussed plans to kidnap or even kill the two men. There was talk of smuggling Dobrokhotov out of the UK from the Norfolk coast in a small boat, then taking him back to Russia. Dobrokhotov said that it was clear that this would lead to his death, painting a stark picture of the risks involved.

Dobrokhotov said that in January 2023, a month before police in the UK arrested members of the spy ring, he was "warned that I shouldn't leave the country because it might be dangerous." He didn't realize he was being followed by Bulgarian spies, who were once so close to him on a flight that they saw the password on his phone, demonstrating the level of surveillance they were under.

He believes the police action sends a signal. "Vladimir Putin doesn't understand messages in words, only messages in actions," Dobrokhotov said. "So the message he understands is, for example, that Ukraine gets long-range missiles. That's a message he can understand. When his spies are arrested and given heavy sentences, that's also a message he can understand," suggesting that tangible actions are the only way to deter Putin's aggression.

He believes that using Bulgarians engaged in normal jobs indicates that Russian espionage is limited after so many professional spies were expelled by Western countries, but that organizations like the Bulgarian spy ring are equally dangerous. Speaking about what motivates him, Dobrokhotov said he wants to "change Russia" because he doesn't want to live in a country "where people are killed simply because they are journalists or criticize the government," reflecting his commitment to freedom of speech and a more democratic Russia.

He said, "As long as we exist, it will be difficult for Vladimir Putin to feel powerful inside Russia," and "we will be the people he will try to eliminate for the rest of his life." "The situation we face is that some of us will survive, either us or Vladimir Putin and his team." Last Friday, Vanya Gaberova, 30, Katrin Ivanova, 33, and Tihomir Ivanchev, 39, were convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage, while Roussev, 47, and Biser Dzhambazov, 43, had previously admitted the same charge. A sixth Bulgarian, Ivan Stoyanov, 34, admitted espionage. Ivanova was also convicted of possessing multiple false identity documents, highlighting the complexity and scope of the operation.