Bulgaria Court Refuses to Bail Euroroma Leader

An appeal for bail on medical grounds by Euroroma leader Tsvetelin Kanchev, who is charged with attempted blackmail, has been turned down by Sofia City Court. Photo by BGNES

Sofia City Court has ruled against the request of Euroroma leader Tsvetelin Kanchev to be released on bail on medical grounds.

Kanchev had presented documents to the court on Monday, that stated that he was suffering spinal disk problems.

Tsvetelin Kanchev, Hristo Varbanov and Dimo Stanchev had been arrested at the beginning of December on charges of blackmailing the former Head of Civil Defense, Nikolay Nikolov.

They had demanded EUR 160 000 from Nikolov, threatening to publish incriminating documents if he did not comply.

The court also refused Stanchev's plea for bail. Varbanov did not ask to be released.

The session was held behind closed doors, as the case includes printouts of tapped phone conversations.

Dozens of Roma had gathered at the courthouse in support of the three accused.

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