Bulgarian 'Killer' Heads European Sumo Union

Petar Stoyanov, aka The Chieftain, has been left in the arrest for the duration of the investigation against him. Photo by BGNES

The president of the Bulgarian Sumo Wrestling Federation, who is behind bars on suspicions that he led an organized group of paid assassins, has been elected head of the European Sumo Union.

The congress of the union took place last week in France.

Stoyanov was the only runner and was unanimously elected for the post by all delegates, who apparently were not impressed by his absence, though duly informed about his detention.

France's Frederico Sanchis will serve as Stoyanov's First Vice President, D. Rozum from Poland has been named Second Vice President for sponsoring, shows information published on the union's site.

Stephen Gadd from the Netherlands has been elected General Secretary of the union and Francois Wahl from Switzerland – its treasurer.

Petar Stoyanov is a leading figure in the Bulgarian sumo world. He has a silver and two bronze World Medals in amateur sumo. Apart from being president of the Bulgarian Sumo Federation, he serves as a manager and coach.

On Saturday Stoyanov, aka "the Chieftain", was left in permanent detention on suspicions that he led an organized group of paid assassins.

For the past two months, Stoyanov and four other men, suspected of participating in the organized crime group known as "Killers", have been on and off in the arrest as courts have released them on bail claiming the prosecutors and the police failed to present sufficient evidence for permanent detention.

However, on Saturday, the District Court in the northeastern city of Shumen ruled in favor of keeping Stoaynov behind bars.

The Chieftain was arrested three days ago in the Tokuda hospital in Sofia based on new evidence. Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov suggested he was trying to evade the detention based on fake medical grounds.

In Shumen, the sumo wrestler is investigated for the murders of local businessman Rumen Rashev, the Veliko Tarnovo lawyer Petar Lupov, and Sofia energy businessman Borislav Georgiev, a close associate of energy tycoon Hristo Kovachki. In Sofia, Stoyanov is under investigation for the murder of football club president Yuriy Galev. His additional charge is of organizing and heading an organized crime group.

Rumen Rachev was gunned down, execution style, on July 3, 2009, in broad daylight while entering his SUV.

With the Chieftain's arrest all five individuals, who were detained during the special police operation, codenamed "The Killers" for the recent murder of controversial Samokov businessman and football boss, Yuri Galev, are back behind bars.

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