The leader of a British-based Russian spy ring which prosecutors said carried out surveillance for the Kremlin was sentenced in a London court on Monday to nearly 11 years in jail, as his five team members were jailed for a total of about 40 years.

The spies conducted surveillance for the Russians, targeting journalists, diplomats and dissidents in Britain, Austria, Spain and Montenegro, prosecutors said.

The group, which referred to themselves as the "minions", ran an international spy ring from a Norfolk guesthouse.