Bulgaria Prosecutor: Journalist Was Killed over Leads to Witnesses

Bulgaria's Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Kamen Sitnilski, declares the "mutri era" has come to an end. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Bulgaria's controversial journalist, Bobi Tsankov, was killed because he had pointed out to the prosecutor's office possible witnesses against the notorious Marguin brothers.

Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Kamen Sitnilski, spoke in a special interview for Darik radio Wednesday, saying the naming of the witnesses is the investigation's main version in the murder. Sitnilski further explained that Tsankov's main activity was his connection with the mafia while book writing and hosting radio shows were on the side, serving the criminal ties.

Bobi Tsankov was gunned down on January 5 in broad daylight on a busy Sofia boulevard. He was known for his involvement with the mafia and for publications revealing the dark secrets of the underworld.

Shortly after the murder, the police arrested Krasimir Marinov aka the Big Marguin and later charged him with plotting the assassination. His younger brother Nikolay aka the Little Marguin is also sought by the police, but is currently in the hiding. On Wednesday, the Court ordered the Little Marguin's arrest and a state-wide search for him.

The two brothers, nicknamed the Marguins, are known as some of Bulgaria's top criminal bosses. They are currently defendants in another trial for the plotting of 3 murders for hire.

Sitnilski further told Darik that the investigation of Tsankov's murder had been probing other people, connected or not to the Marguins, who may have ordered the assassination.

“We have checked the cameras near the crime scene, the route of the killers, but the winter storm conditions in Sofia that day, the clothes they were wearing and their speedy retreat do not allow us to make definite conclusions yet,” the Deputy Chief Prosecutor explained.

Sitnilski says that in the last year of the term of the previous cabinet and in the first months of the new one, Bulgaria's organized crime had been brought to its knees and top mafia bosses have been either pressured, detained or made to leave the country.

The Prosecutor declared the end of the “mutri (mobsters) era” in Bulgaria and pointed out the next stage would involve fighting white collar crimes in all sectors of the society.

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