site.btaCourt Remands in Custodty Ukrainian Passport Holder Arrested for Espionage at Maritsa East 2 TPP

The Sofia City Court has remanded in custody the Ukrainian passport holder charged with espionage, the court's press centre said, adding that the hearing was held behind closed doors at the prosecution office's request.

The court held that there was evidence from which a reasonable suspicion could be drawn that the accused had committed the crime he was charged with. Furthermore, the court held, there was a risk that the man could commit a crime and abscond.

The court's order is not final and is subject to appeal before a higher-instance court.

The Sofia City Prosecutor's Office reported on Wednesday that on June 18, a 23-year-old man, who identified himself with a Ukrainian identity document, was detained by the security of the Maritsa East 2 thermal power plant, inside the thermal power plant itself. During a search of the man, drones, mobile phones, cameras, multiple SIM cards as well as memory cards were found. He was charged with collecting information that constituted a state secret in order to provide it to a foreign state.