site.btaProsecution Service Charges Assen Vassilev's Associate Lachezar Stavrev with Money Laundering, Malfeasance in Office

Lachezar Stavrev, a former expert at the Finance Ministry in Continue the Change (CC) Co-Chair Assen Vassilev's term in office (June 2023 - April 2024), was charged with money laundering and malfeasance in office, the prosecution service said on Thursday. He will remain in custody for 72 hours as the prosecution service will consider whether to ask the court for his permanent arrest.

Stavrev was detained on Wednesday. CC published a statement, arguing that "the probable reason [for the detainment] is that Stavrev was mentioned in the so-called "testimony" of the former head of the Customs Agency Petya Bankova, retrieved allegedly under pressure, after an arrest lasting nearly 7 months."