Media Not Allowed at Bulgaria Notorious Galevi Brothers Trial

The two alleged Mafia bosses from the town of Dupnitsa, Angel Hristov (R) and Plamen Galev (L). Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

The Kuystendil District Court resumed Monday the trial against the notorious Galevi brothers.

In the beginning of the session, Judge Miroslav Nachev announced that the proceedings will not be opened for the media per the request of the Galevi defense team over evidence collected through special surveillance devices.

The Judge told the defendants that they can select one representative each to remain in the courtroom.

28 witnesses are scheduled to take the witness stand Monday.

Plamen Galev and Angel Hristov, aka the "Galevi brothers", have been investigated over a long period of time for various crimes in the southwest town of Dupnitsa, (in the western Kyustendil Region), most notably racketeering and organized crime.

In mid-June, the Galevi brothers walked out of jail after both were allowed to run for parliamentary seats and thus receiving immunity from prosecution.

They failed to win seats in the 41st General Assembly, but are still free on bail.

Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Cassations ruled on July 16 that the Galevi trial is within the authority of the Kyustendil District Court.

The magistrates based their decision on the fact the alleged criminal acts have been executed in the area that is under the jurisdiction of the Kyustendil Court.

The representative of the Supreme Prosecutor's Office of Cassations argued that the Kyustendil Court was not competent to try the case and stated considerations of why it should be assigned to the Sofia's City Court, mainly to assure a fair and objective rule.

Part of the charges include accusations that Galevi had racketeered cab drivers and bar owners in their town asking them to pay them cash in exchange for protection. The main witness against Galevi is Plamen Milanov, owner of a taxi company, who claims the two have racketeered him to give them money each month. Milanov told the media several times already that he was afraid of Galevi and is not optimistic about the trial's outcome.

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