PRESS RELEASE

28 February 2020

In relation to the provided by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Bulgaria data and in respect to the high public interest on the conducted, under the supervision of Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office (SCPO), investigation about the attempted murder by poisoning of Emiliyan Hristov Gebrev, his son Hr. Gebrev and V.T we provide the following additional information:

In relation to the provided by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Bulgaria data and in respect to the high public interest on the conducted, under the supervision of Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office (SCPO), investigation about the attempted murder by poisoning of Emiliyan Hristov Gebrev, his son Hr. Gebrev and V.T we provide the following additional information:

SCPO indicted in absentia accusations against three people – Russian citizens, namely: SERGEY VIKTOROVICH PAVLOV, SERGEY VIACHESLAVOVICH FEDOTOV and GEORGI GORSHKOV. SCPO issued also European Arrest Warrant for each of the charged people, as well as a request for international search, followed by arrest and extradition. The identities of the defendants have been announced within the Schengen Information System and Interpol with Red Notice.

In accordance to the information, additionally collected in the course of the investigation that the defendants used the identities of people with initials as follows – for Pavlov – S.V.L, for Fedotov – D.V.S. and for Gorshkov – E.A.G. and also the received biometrical data of the above-mentioned people, SCPO undertook actions for upgrading and supplementing of the European Arrest Warrant for each of the people, as well as the request for international search, followed by an arrest and extradition. Measures have been undertaken also for upgrading and supplementing of the already submitted information to the SIS / Schengen Information System/ and Interpol.

No requests will be made to the Russian State for extradition of the  above mentioned people because of the existing ban on extradition of Russian citizens to another country, originating from the Declaration of the Russian Federation under Article 6 & 1b “a” of the European Convention on Extradition, referring to Article 61 para 1 of the Russian Constitution. However, SCPO will seek assistance for transferring the suspects via Interpol, in case they leave the territory of the Russian Federation.