Bulgarian Court to Rule in US Extradition Case

Dozens of people gathered Friday morning in front of the main Courthouse in the Bulgarian capital Sofia to protest in support Gergana Chervenkova, who is facing extradition to the US. Photo by BGNES

A Bulgarian mother of two will hear on Friday the court's ruling on whether to be handed over to US justice and face nearly 70 years in prison.

Bulgaria Court of Appeals released at the beginning of July Gergana Chervenkova on a bail of BGN 1000.

At its Friday’s hearing however the court will have to decide whether to pass Chervenkova to American justice. In the US she may face up to 68 years in prison.

Gergana Chervenkova is facing extradition to the US on allegations of being part of a group for unauthorized online drug trade in her capacity of financial manager for the British company "Euromedonline Ltd."

The US authorities have sent statements, according to which Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents have solid evidence the Bulgarian was involved in the unlawful sale of drugs.

Chervenkova worked in the commercial agency "BG Global Services", which is a service company of "Euromedonline Ltd." Her role was to process weekly reports from the sales system and to calculate the accumulated fees and commissions for doctors and pharmacies based on sales realized through the site. Cherevenkova's responsibilities did not involve selling drugs.

The former Interior Minister from Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, however, stated Chervenkova was the head of the organized criminal group. He also said that her arrest happened due to good cooperation between Bulgarian and US authorities.

“I'm not afraid because I know I'm innocent. I am just worried about how long it will take and that although I am innocent, I may spend time in detention,” Gergana Chervenkova out on a bail of BGN 1000 said in an interview for 24 Hours daily.

“I do not have a lev saved in my banking account, my husband and I have loans to pay to the bank. We never wanted to be rich in the literal sense, we are blessed by our love and the friends that we have.”

On Friday morning, as her daughter turned seven, Gergana had just one wish – to be with her family and her two kids.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!