Sofia Police Interrogate Football Boss Ivaylo Drazhev

Ivaylo Drazhev, former President of the “Chernomorets” football club in Burgas, was arrested just one day after the murder of controversial journalist, Bobi Tsankov. Photo by BGNES

Former football club president, Ivaylo Drazhev, was escorted to the Sofia Police Directorate Thursday for questioning.

On Wednesday, Drazhev was detained with a prosecutor's warrant in the Black Sea city of Burgas.

The warrant stems from 2007 pre-trail proceedings for document forgery and a 2008 summons by the National Investigative Services as a witness.

The 2008 case revolves around a complaint Drazhev logged against an investigator, who was probing a 1998 car accident where the football boss is accused of causing the death of 2 people and sending another one to a wheelchair. This is the second accident in which Drazhev, allegedly, caused a fatality, and the case has been dragging on for 11 years without a verdict. Drazhev claims the investigator had not followed proper procedures.

According to Wednesday unofficial information, the arrest was over unpaid taxes but the Burgas Regional Revenue Agency office denied having any involvement in the detention and declined comments. It is known that Drazhev is being investigated for tax evasion.

Hours before the arrest, Drazhev said in an interview that he was firendly with the murdered controversial journalsit, Bobi Tsankov, who was gunned down on January 5 in broad daylight on a busy Sofia boulevard. He also said that Tsankov used bodyguards and a SUV from the businesses of alleged top crime boss, Zlatomir Ivanov aka Baretata (the Barret). Drazhev used the same company for security during the July 2009 general elections where he was a majority candidate for Member of the Parliament from the "Bulgarian Patriots" Union ticket.

Also during the elections, Drazhev asked the authorities to release Baretata from jail with the motive he was his advocate for the parliamentary run. The court rejected the request.

Baretata is linked to organized crime, two murders for hire and three attempted murders.

In addition to the Parliamentary elections, Drazhev, who is a businessman and former President of the “Chernomorets” football club in Burgas, ran for local elections. In January 2009, Drazhev stirred another scandal when he decided to run for President of the Bulgarian Football Union, but at the last moment was banned from attending the Union's congress with the motive he withdrew his application.

According to unconfirmed information, Drazhev has been questioned in connection with Tsankov's murder. Tsankov was known for his ties with the mafia, including Baretata, and for publications revealing the dark secrets of the underworld.

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