site.btaVazrazhdane Party Starts Campaign in Support of Milan Dimitrov after His Extradition to United States

Bulgaria's Vazrazhdane party is launching a campaign in support of Milan Dimitrov, a Bulgarian who spent a year and eight months in a Greek prison and was extradited to the United States late last week, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov told a BTA-hosted news conference on Monday. The news conference was attended by Milan Dimitrov's father Dimitar.

In February 2023, Milan Dimitrov and his father were accused of obtaining radiation-resistant chips from a company in Texas and sending them to Russia via Bulgaria. Both were accused of violating export control and money laundering rules. The chips, which were specially made to withstand the effects of radiation and extreme temperatures, are critical components in the production of missiles and military satellites, said Reuters.

Kostadinov told Monday's news conference: "Milan Dimitrov has been arrested and abducted to an American prison on charges not supported by evidence. A Bulgarian is held hostage. He is the new Sergei Antonov." The reference was to a Bulgarian airline representative accused of involvement in an assassination attempt against Pope John Paul II in 1981.

Vazrazhdane will describe Dimitrov's case in a letter which they will send to the embassies of Bulgaria's allies in the EU and NATO. Dimitrov's family will announce a bank account for donations to hire a lawyer.

Each member of the Vazrazhdane parliamentary group will make a private donation, Kostadinov said. "We are starting a campaign in support of the Bulgarian hostage," he added.

He noted that Dimitrov's father is charged along with him. If found guilty, the extradition of the 75-year-old father will be requested as well, according to Kostadinov.

He recalled a meeting at the Russian Embassy in Bulgaria in connection with the case of Milan Dimitrov, who holds Russian as well as Bulgarian citizenship. Officers of the Russian Embassy reportedly vowed to do everything within their powers, but wondered why they were contacted so late.