The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the UK authorised charges Tuesday against a sixth person suspected of conducting espionage for the Russian Federation. Tihomir Ivanchev, a Bulgarian national, has been accused of “conspiring to obtain, collect, record, publish or communicate documents or information which might be or was intended to be directly or indirectly useful for a purpose prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state.”

Ivanchev was arrested on February 7, following an investigation headed up by the Metropolitan Police Counter-Terrorism Command. His arrest comes after five other Bulgarian nationals were charged in September 2023 with conspiring to gather information that would be useful to an enemy. They are awaiting a trial due to begin in October 2024. Ivanchev, a painter and decorator from Acton in North London, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, where he did not indicate a plea. He was denied bail and remanded into custody and will next appear at the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey) on March 15.

The accusations against Ivanchev are linked to the five other previously-charged suspects, with his alleged involvement discovered through the translation of group messages. They are accused of working as part of a spy cell for Russian security services, conducting surveillance on targets and passing along information to Russia.