S10 Ep31: Jan Marsalek’s Spy Ring and a Telegram Trail to Moscow with Manuel Bewarder

In this episode, Chris speaks with German investigative journalist Manuel Bewarder about the Jan Marsalek spy network and the landmark UK trial that exposed it. They unpack how the former Wirecard executive allegedly directed a Bulgarian spy ring from Moscow, targeting journalists, dissidents, and even U.S. military facilities in Germany. Drawing on thousands of Telegram messages revealed in court, Manuel explains how the network operated, how close it came to violence, and what the case reveals about modern Russian espionage—from freelance-style proxy networks to sabotage plots and battlefield intelligence collection. They also explore ongoing investigations in Austria and Germany, and what Marsalek’s continued presence in Russia tells us about his ties to the Kremlin.

You can listen to S10 Ep31: Jan Marsalek’s Spy Ring and a Telegram Trail to Moscow with Manuel Bewarder online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

S10 Ep31: Jan Marsalek’s Spy Ring and a Telegram Trail to Moscow with Manuel Bewarder is an episode from Secrets & Spies.

This episode is 67:09 long.

This episode was published on Feb 14, 2026.

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