DA in Bulgaria's High-profile Case Concedes to 'No Octopus'

Aleksei Petrov was arrested in the middle of February on charges of money laundering, racketeering, drug trafficking, bribery and tax fraud. Photo by BGNES

The prosecutor in the case against former undercover agent and controversial businessman, Aleksei Petrov concedes the rule of the Sofia City Court there is no evidence the latter is the leader of an organized crime group is correct.

The Prosecution had not appealed the Court's decision that the group codenamed Octopus did not exist, and even stated it was "right and legally sound."

Aleksei Petrov, himself, declared he was glad that 9 months after his arrest he does not have to prove he has no involvement in the Octopus, reiterating the entire case has been masterminded to serve somebody's interests.

The former agent of the State Agency for National Security (DANS) remains behind bars despite the fact he is no longer deemed a ringleader on grounds he can pressure witnesses in the still-standing case against him over charges of racket and blackmail.

The defense counsel pointed out there is no precedent in the last 20 years where an individual has been held behind bars for nine months for 10- and 12-year-old alleged crimes.

The Court of Appeals is adjuring Tuesday to rule on Petrov's latest request to be released from prison.

According to medical experts, he needs surgeries on his knee joints, on his lumbar disc hernia, as well as on his tonsils; his treatment cannot be carried out in the prison hospital and he needs at least six months to recover. On October 3, the Sofia City Court ruled Petrov can receive such treatment in specialized hospitals and still be under strict security 24 hours per day.

Former State Agency for National Security (DANS) agent, Aleksei Petrov, one of the most controversial and mysterious figures of the country's transition, was arrested on February 10, 2010, during the special police operation codenamed "Octopus," on charges of blackmail, racket, prostitution, illegal drug trading, draining of the "Kremikovzi" steel mill, trading in influence, money laundering, and tax evasion, among others.

On September 8, the Sofia City Court, ruled to keep Petrov behind bars. During the session, the defense counsel announced the prosecutor has already lifted a number of charges against their client such as organizing a prostitution ring, the draining of the steel mill, money laundering among others and the sole charge still standing was for organizing a crime group dealing with racket and blackmail.

The Prosecutor's Office first declined any comments, then firmly rejected the claims of the attorneys saying Petrov is still charged as the ringleader of a large-scale crime group, but the case was divided in two separate ones.

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