A Bulgarian woman accused of being part of a Russian spy cell operating in Britain has denied knowing that the information she collected would be sent to Russia.
Catherine Ivanova, 33, is accused of spying for Russia in a series of sophisticated operations in Britain and Europe.
It is said to have targeted a US military base in Germany and secretly filmed two investigative journalists considered enemies of the Russian state.
Jurors heard there was a risk the journalists would be kidnapped or killed.
Giving evidence for the first time, Ms Ivanova denied being a spy.
She took after the people targeted for the operations and traveled around Europe, but said she did not know the true purpose of the operation.
She said she believed an operation targeting investigative journalist Christo Grozev was itself a form of journalism and would expose the public to his corruption.
“The plan was to try to expose Mr. Grozev,” she said.
However, no information was ever released and “nothing really happened,” she said.
She said her then-partner Bisser Djembazov—whom she told jurors she trusted with her life—asked her to take part in the surveillance operations.
“He's been my partner for over 10 years. Why would he do something to hurt me,” she said.
The operations were to help Jambazov's friend Orlin Rusev, who supported the couple financially after he first moved to the UK in 2012, Ms Ivanova told the court.
The couple first met Rusev at East Croydon train station in 2012. and went to dinner with him at a “posh” restaurant near the Thames, she said.
“I was very impressed with him,” she said. “He was someone I always wanted to be. He was a typical immigrant story of the hero.”
Both Dzambazov and Rusev have already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to spy for Russia.
Ms Ivanova wiped away tears in the witness box as she described learning how her partner had been arrested in bed with the other alleged female spy in the trial, Vanya Gaberova, 30.
Jurors heard Jobazov and Ms Gaberova were in bed together when police arrived to arrest them in February 2023.
She said Dzhambazov told her he had a brain tumor and went abroad for treatment. She now believes it was a lie so he could live a “parallel life” with Ms. Gaberova.
The trial continues.