Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor: USA Demand Detention of Four More Bulgarians

Interpol - Washington has demanded the detention of four more Bulgarians - two men and two women in connection with the case of Zheliyas Andreev, Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov announced on 12^th of April. The requested arrests are related to the allegations made to Andreev for violation of the embargo on trade with Syria.

The Prosecutor's Office will not ask the court for a permanent arrest for the four, Tsatsarov added, and specified that the prosecutor had asked whether the detention was urgent. The Chief Public Prosecutor also explained that the state prosecution had no right to withhold Andreev's 72-hour detention, nor to ask the court for a permanent arrest. Andreev was released but is not allowed to leave home address without permission of the authorities.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry initiated consultations with the US government to clarify the case with Zhelyaz Andreev. It is due to be discussed at a meeting of Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Sterk with US Ambassador Eric Rubin.

At present, protests in support of Zhelyaz are organized in Sofia, Dobrich and Varna.

The protestors are united around the position that Andreev is innocent and described the accusations against him as absurd.

Zhelyaz Andreev himself has repeatedly stated that he believes he is innocent and that he did not suspect that he violated any law, let alone American.

Today, he and his lawyer met with Ombudsperson Maya Manolova.