site.btaJournalist Viktoria Marinova's Murder Suspect to Be Extradited Shortly from Germany

Sofia, October 12 (BTA) - Following a German prosecutors' request for information on the conditions in Bulgaria's detention facilities, the Justice Ministry replied that the EU standards - a living area of four square metres and an en suite toilet - would apply to Severin Krassimirov, the suspect for journalist Viktoria Marinova's murder. Krassimirov, whose DNA was found on the crime scene, was detained on a European Arrest Warrant in Germany on Tuesday.

The prosecution office in the town of Celle in the German State of Lower Saxony, which is handling the case, said the suspect would be extradited to Bulgaria within ten days.

Marinova, who lived in the Danubian city of Rousse, was found raped and strangled on Saturday. After the crime, the 21-year-old suspect left for Germany where his mother lives. The victim's DNA was found on the man's clothes in his home in Rousse.

Krassimirov said that acting under the influence of alcohol and drugs, he had an argument with the 30-year-old woman, hit her and threw her into some bushes. He said he did not intend to kill her and denied raping her, said the prosecutors in Celle.

Answering a reporter's question about measures against the escalation of tension in Rousse, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said a tight police presence was in place in two Roma neighbourhoods. Krassimirov lived at his aunt's in one of those neighbourhoods where many residents identify themselves as being Muslims of Turkish origin. Borissov urged against any acts likely to escalate tension.

Likewise, Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Kornelia Ninova called on politicians and the media to do their best to prevent heightened ethnic tensions in Rousse. Asked if Bulgaria should get an apology from European politicians for their initial reaction to the murder, Ninova said what was needed was analysis, discussion and conclusions as to why this happened. "The answer is - distrust. The Bulgarians distrust the institutions, and foreign politicians probably distrust [the institutions'] ability to deal with problems," she said, adding that the foreign reactions showed how Bulgaria is perceived abroad and that efforts should be made to change this attitude.

On Thursday, United Patriots floor leader Volen Siderov said he would raise the issue of reforming the Interior Ministry at a meeting of the council of the government coalition. He stressed that Ataka still insists on the resignation of Interior Minister Mladen Marinov, first demanded late last week after Siderov's wife was involved in a traffic accident. LI/DD