Brazil Pardoned Bulgaria's Boevski Ahead of World Cup - Report

Galabin Boevski, who was jailed in Brazil on cocaine trafficking charges, and was to spent over 9 years in jail, surprisingly returned to Bulgaria Wednesday. Photo grab by BNT

The release of Bulgarian Olympic champion Galabin Boevski is part of a wave of prisoner amnesties ahead of the World Cup 2014, media reports claim.

Brazilian authorities seek to make sure there is vacant space in their jails amid expectations for violence and crime during the World Cup tournament next year, TV 7 TV channel said, citing unofficial sources.

Galabin Boevski, who was jailed in Brazil on cocaine trafficking charges, and was to spent over 9 years in jail, surprisingly returned to Bulgaria Wednesday.

In its evening broadcast, the public television, the Bulgarian National Television, BNT, aired footage, showing Boevski at the Sofia international airport, arriving on a flight from Paris and greeted by his family.

Only BNT reporter, Yordan Dimitrov, has been at the airport to film the arrival and try to get some details.

When approached by Dimitrov, the athlete refused any comment as did the Bulgarian embassy in Brazil, and his Bulgarian lawyer.

Bulgarian officials, including the justice minister and chief prosecutor, said on Thursday that they were caught by surprise by Boevski's release.