Bulgarian Authorities to Mull Tsvetan Vasilev’s Extradition, PM Says

Bulgarian authorities will discuss the possibility of seeking the extradition of KTB majority owner Tsvetan Vasilev from Serbia, caretaker PM Georgi Bliznashki said on Wednesday.

His comment was prompted by a statement by Vasilev's lawyer that his client was in Serbia's capital Belgrade and was working on a recovery plan for  the troubled bank.

The lawyer, Konstantin Simeonov, also said Vasilev was willing to return to Bulgaria despite perceiving a threat to his life.

"I believe […] that Mr. Tsvetan Vasilev should come back to Bulgaria no matter what threats have been leveled at him, he should come back and explain what happened to the bank that has been linked to his name," Bliznashki told private channel TV+.

On July 28 Bulgarian prosecutors charged Vasilev - whose whereabours were unknown at the time - with embezzlement and issued an international warrant for his arrest.

On Friday, Sofia City Court will deliberate whether to deny the prosecutors' request for a 72-hour detention of Tsvetan Vasilev.

If Vasilev returns to Bulgaria, he should be put under arrest for up to 72 hours before prosecutors possibly decide to alter the pre-trial detention measure.