Our Planet Climate and Geopolitics
Jan Marsalek, the former chief operating officer of German firm Wirecard who went on the run when the scandal-hit tech firm collapsed in 2020, was potentially being linked yesterday in a UK court as part of a spy ring accused of working for Russia. Three men and two women, all Bulgarian nationals, appeared via video link at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Prosecutor Kathryn Selby alleged that they carried out surveillance on targets on behalf of Russia between August 2020 and February 2023. One of the suspects, Orlin Roussev, was allegedly in charge of spying operations in the UK and Europe and allegedly received instructions from a person “known as Jan Marsalek”. Many reports are linking the name to Marsalek, who is wanted in Germany as a fraud suspect. He is now believed to be in Russia and is not charged in the case.
