Espionage

The security clearance of caretaker Minister of Interior Boyko Rashkov has been revoked because he had disclosed confidential information, said the suspended deputy head of the State Agency for National Security (DANS) Nedyalko Nedyalkov. Today, he went to the security agency to find out the reasons for his dismissal.

The US spied on top politicians in Europe, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, from 2012 to 2014 with the help of Danish intelligence, AFP reported, quoting Danish and European media on Sunday.

The five people detained for espionage in favor of Russia remain permanently in custody. The court hearing lasted until 5 a.m. this morning after the defense asked to review the documents in detail. According to the indictment, sufficient evidence was gathered against Ivan Iliev, identified as "the Resident", who is a former high-rank officer of military intelligence.

Two panels of the Sofia Military Court will decide whether to keep in custody the five members of an espionage group which gathered information in favour of Russia. Six people were detained during a raid on Thursday, but one of them presented a confession and was let out on bail.

"It's the first time that an espionage ring has been busted in Bulgaria. We have evidence gathered through special intelligence tools.

Their criminal activity endangers our national security," stated spokesperson for the Prosecutor General Siyka Mileva in connection with the detained servicemen who participated in an espionage ring as quoted by BGNES

John Kiriakou met Karen Giorno, a former senior campaign adviser to then US President Donald Trump, at his lawyer's officer in early July 2018.

Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnic (centre) at a press conference in Podgorica. Photo: PR Centar.

"A case was established at the Special State Prosecutor's Office and a pre-investigation process has been launched. More information and data cannot be disclosed in order to protect the criminal proceedings," the Special Prosecutor's Office told BIRN.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the head of Wikileaks can return once legal challenges have been dealt with

British best-selling author David Cornwell, better known as John le Carre whose Cold War-era spy novels transformed the espionage genre, died over the weekend, his literary agent said. He was 89 years old.

His family said le Carre died Saturday night in Cornwall, Britain, from pneumonia after a short battle with the illness.

John le Carre, a spy turned novelist who became the preeminent writer of espionage fiction in English, has died at age 89.

Le Carre's literary agency, Curtis Brown, said on Dec. 13 that he died in Cornwall, southwest England on Saturday after a short illness. The death was not related to COVID-19.