site.btaMan Arrested in Germany for Bulgarian Journalist's Brutal Murder

105 JUSTICE - JOURNALIST'S MURDER - SUSPECT Amp.2


Man Arrested in Germany
for Bulgarian Journalist's
Brutal Murder


Sofia, October 10 (BTA) - A 21 year-old man from the Danubian city of Rousse has been arrested in Germany for the murder of local journalist Viktoria Marinova. Details of the arrest were announced at a joint  news conference given by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov,  Prosecutor General Sotir Tsatsarov and Interior Minister Mladen  Marinov here on Wednesday morning.

Marinova, a 30 year-old TV show host at a local channel, was raped and strangled while out for a jog on Saturday near the docks along the Danube. Her brutal murder sparked a major outcry both in Bulgaria and abroad.

Minister Marinov said that the suspected murderer is Severin Nadezhdov Krassimirov from Rousse, who was born in 1997. He was arrested Tuesday nigh in Germany at the Bulgarian authorities' request. The suspect's residence was close to the crime scene, Marinov explained, adding that there is sufficient evidence to directly link Krassimirov to the murder scene and the victim. Some of the DNA tests are ready, which confirm the presence of
the victim's DNA on the suspect's clothes.

Tsatsarov noted that Krassimirov has been charged in absentia with rape and aggravated murder.

Borissov thanked everyone involved in the investigation for their quick response and prompt work and commented the reactions to the murder. According to Borissov, the Bulgarian State was subjected to unfounded criticism over the past few days, while everyone involved in solving the case were giving their best.

"It was Bulgarians who in these few days did so that Bulgaria was mentioned like Malta or Slovakia, to vilify their country in the most brutal and disgusting of ways, to be happy if Bulgaria makes the world news with negative information about the most serious of crimes - an attack on an investigative journalist," Borissov said. "Over the course of three days, I read monstrous things about Bulgaria, none of which are true," the Prime Minister said, hinting at rash reactions from Brussels. "They destroyed us with tweets," he said, adding that he will have a serious talk with the European People's Party when he goes there.

The Prime Minister offered his condolences to the victim's friends and family, thanking those involved in the case for their work. He noted that funds will be allocated for the modernization of the Interior Ministry's Research Institute of Forensic Science and Criminology.

Borissov thanked the three German federal provinces and their leaders, who joined the investigation, noting that the suspect had been changing his whereabouts. He will be questioned in a German court, the Prime Minister said, explaining that all the DNA test results will be presented diligently.

Bulgarian and international reactions to the murder continued into Wednesday.

In a statement following the suspect's arrest, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker welcomed the swift and intensive efforts by Prime Minister Borissov and the Bulgarian authorities who in close cooperation with law enforcement agencies from other EU Member States successfully arrested the suspected murderer of journalist Victoria Marinova. The swift reaction and joint efforts demonstrate the resolve to bring justice for such despicable acts, the statement reads.

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms released a position, which describes the murder as a brutal act that brought up many questions, such as who made hate speech official, why aggression is omnipresent, where the competent authorities are and whether the State is stable.

Viktoria Marinova's ex-husband, Svilen Maksimov, who also owns the TV channel where she used to work, thanked the police for its work and managing to cope with the pressure they were under.