site.btaFugitive Gambling Mogul Bojkov Charged with Subversion, Extradition Sought Anew

Sofia, July 20 (BTA) - Speaking at a news conference Tuesday,
the head of the Specialized Prosecution office, Valentina
Madjarova, said pre-trial proceedings had been launched for
liability pursuant to Article 95 of the Criminal Code related to
 participation in attempted coup or in rebellion for forceful
seizure of power.
  
Pre-trial proceedings were launched on July 13 and there are
over 50 pieces of evidence collected by the use of special
surveillance means. In this case, Bojkov is charged as being the
 leader and organizer of a criminal group for subversion "where
peaceful strike action was under way". Other persons have also
been charged.

Bojkov was once considered to be the wealthiest Bulgarian with
assets estimated at between 1.5 billion and 3 billion leva. In
early 2020, he was charged with evasion of more than 700 million
 leva in gambling licensing fees, money laundering, extortion,
bribery, murder, rape, leading an organized crime group since
2014, trading in influence, and unlawful possession of cultural
assets. In July 2020, he was also charged with crimes against
the Republic. Bojkov left the country before the full-scale
crackdown against him and is now in the United Arab Emirates,
from where Bulgaria is seeking his extradition.
  
Madjarova said "no one besides the supervising prosecutor, not
even a minister, should be aware of the facts and circumstances
relevant to the case". She was referring to information about
such an investigation made public by caretaker Interior Minister
 Boyko Rashkov some time ago. According to him, members of the
public and political figures involved in this case had been
wiretapped. However, on Monday the prosecution office said a
thorough check by all competent authorities did not find any
illegal tapping of politicians.
  
A press release sent by the prosecution later on Tuesday
revealed that the 'participants in the group had the task
through acts of hooliganism to help feed tension during peaceful
 civil protests on Atanas Burov Square, Sofia, and thus
potentially endanger the life and health of the protesters.
  
Also, the participants in the group aimed to cause actual bodily
 harm, illegal property damage, arson and storage of combustible
 substances without due licence.
  
With a view to the new charges, the prosecution has again sent a
 request for the extradition of Bojkov to the United Arab
Emirates./RI/BR