site.btaGeorgi Popov Arrives in Bulgaria, Charges against Him Pending

Sofia, May 21 (BTA) - Georgi Popov has arrived in Sofia from
Dubai via plane. Last year, Popov was accused of participating 
in a criminal group led by fugitive gambling mogul Vassil
Bojkov, who is still in Dubai.

The judicial authorities of the United Arab Emirates have
allowed the extradition of Georgi Popov to Bulgaria, the
spokesperson of the Prosecutor General, Siyka Mileva, told BTA
on Friday.

According to Mileva, Popov was handed over to General
Directorate Security officers who were traveling with him. After
  arriving in Bulgaria, he will be escorted to custody and 
charged.

Mileva clarified that it is up to the supervising prosecutors in
  the case to decide what measure of restraint should be 
requested for Popov and when the request will be submitted to 
the court.

Om May 20, Bojkov wrote in a Facebook post that Georgi Popov is
 returning to Bulgaria of his own free will, and attached a
legal  document to support this claim. 

Once considered to be the wealthiest Bulgarian, businessman
Vassil Bojkov lost his gambling empire overnight in early 2020
when Parliament outlawed private lotteries. He faced multiple
charges, including evasion of gambling licensing fees, money
laundering, extortion, bribery, murder, abetting in four
murders, attempted rape, leading an organized crime group since
2014, trading in influence, and unlawful possession of cultural
assets.

Bojkov then fled to Dubai, where he has been ever since, but
that did not prevent him from starting his own political
formation Bulgarsko Lyato [Bulgarian Summer ] and participating
in the April 4 parliamentary elections.


RI,RY/DT