Wirecard fugitive discussed weapons, diamonds with Russian spy ring leader

By Michael Holden and Sam Tobin

LONDON (Reuters) - Wirecard fugitive Jan Marsalek and the leader of a British-based Russian spy ring discussed sourcing drones for Russia's war in Ukraine, trading blood diamonds and providing mercenaries in Africa, according to messages shown to a London court.

Six Bulgarians who were part of a unit tasked by Marsalek to carry out surveillance on journalists, dissidents and Ukrainian soldiers being trained at a U.S. military base in Germany are facing up to 14 years in jail for spying for Russia.

Three of the group were convicted in March after a trial, while its leader Orlin Roussev, 47, and his deputy Biser Dzhambazov, 43, pleaded guilty last year.

Prosecutors say the unit did not work directly for Russian intelligence and were motivated mostly by money.

The Russian embassy in London has not commented, though the Kremlin has always rejected such spying allegations. Relations between the nations have plunged to post-Cold War lows since the start of the Ukraine war, with Britain accusing Russia of trying to cause "mayhem" in Europe.

Marsalek's lawyer previously declined to comment.

Marsalek and Roussev repeatedly referred to Russia's GRU military intelligence and other security services, and discussed plans to supply drones to Russia and weapons to Cameroon, as well as speaking of their admiration for Elon Musk, in messages relied on by prosecutors.

Marsalek told Roussev that he had met with "GRU guys" and "will be introduced to the drone-procurement guru to discuss requirements", and discussed obtaining and shipping drones from China.

In January 2023, Roussev told Marsalek about how his Chinese contacts wanted "NATO/American weapons and gear captured in Ukraine" in order to reverse engineer the technology.

The pair also talked about selling wheat to Cameroon, with Roussev saying that an order for weapons "will also be on the table", as well as for Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine.

PROVIDE MERCENARIES

"We can pretty much organise anything they need except nukes ... even the nukes if they pay", Marsalek said. "Also happy to provide mercenaries to fight Boko Haram."

Roussev spoke in glowing terms about SpaceX CEO Musk and his satellite system Starlink, saying that, unlike British networks, Starlink "allows everything from Russia ... and Iran".

"Musk is super cool," Marsalek replied.

The pair also talked about contacts who wanted "guns and light infantry vehicles" who would pay with diamonds.

Another plan discussed by Marsalek and Roussev involved organising an airlift out of Kabul in 2021 as the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan.

Roussev's lawyers argue he helped organise a flight out of the country, but the prosecution say in court filings: "This was not being done by (Marsalek) or (Roussev) on a humanitarian basis or at the specific/direct request of the U.S. government.

"(Marsalek's) client was a U.S. private security firm called Constellis." Constellis did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Roussev is being sentenced at London's Old Bailey court alongside Dzhambazov and Ivan Stoyanov, 33, who pleaded guilty before trial.

Dzhambazov's former partner Katrin Ivanova, 33, Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanchev, 39, all denied the same charge but were found guilty.

Austrian national Marsalek is still wanted by German authorities as the former chief operating officer of collapsed payments company Wirecard, accused of a major fraud.

His whereabouts are unknown but he is believed to be in Russia.

(Reporting by Michael Holden and Sam Tobin, editing by Ed Osmond)