Bozhkov

The Sofia Court of Appeal has made a final decision to release the infamous businessman and politican Vasil Bozhkov upon payment of 130,000 BGN, overturning his house arrest.

Initially, the city court had ruled more than a week ago that Bozhkov could be released under the same amount. The appellate judges have now confirmed this cash guarantee.

In a recent judicial decision that has stirred public interest, former gambling mogul, businessman, and politician, Vasil Bozhkov, has been released from house arrest by the Sofia City Court. The court granted Bozhkov's release against a bail of BGN 130,000, considering the eight-month period he spent under house arrest as a new circumstance.

An intense police operation is unfolding at the properties of Vasil Bozhkov, Bulgarian politician and controversial businessman, according to reports from bTV.

Because of insufficient evidence to support criminal charges, the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office has concluded the inquiry into an alleged extortion case involving Boyko Borissov, former finance minister Vladislav Goranov, and GERB media advisor Sevdelina Arnaudova. This investigation was initiated following claims by gambling tycoon Vasil Bozhkov, who stated he was subjected to blackmail.

Additional protection has been assigned to Vasil Bozhkov and his family, announced Georgi Gatev - the lawyer of the gambling businessman. This happened with a prosecutor's decree, after Bozhkov himself requested a few months ago to be guarded.

On August 23, the authorities in the UAE and the General Prosecutor's Office in Dubai gave Vasil Bozhkov a 72-hour deadline to leave the country, BNT reported.

Vasil Bozhkov remains in custody permanently, the Bulgarian court decided, after the gambling boss was detained on his return to Bulgaria. During the court session, the prosecutor's office presented data on communication and joint business between Bozhkov and the leader of the private military company "Wagner" Yevgeny Prigozhin.

The wanted Bulgarian businessman Vasil Bozhkov landed in Sofia at 15:02 p.m. He is expected to be taken away by "Border Police" teams, as a detention order has been imposed against him for a period of 72 hours.

According to BNT, Bozhkov has already passed the border control and was detained.

The businessman Vasil Bozhkov announced on his Facebook profile that he is returning to Bulgaria this afternoon. Since January 2020, he has been in Dubai, and several investigations are being conducted against him in absentia and he has been declared an internationally wanted man.

"I am ready to return to Bulgaria as a protected witness", Vasil Bozhkov wrote on Facebook today.

"Borissov's impudence gave way to his fear. He has reason to be afraid," he also wrote.