Todor Vasilev with Nikoleta and Pavel. Private Photo
Todor Vasilev, the Bulgarian father of the two children involved in the custody battle with their Polish mother, declared he was ready to turn over his son to the mother.
Vasilev spoke in a special interview for Darik radio Sunday.
The father said he was fully prepared to comply with the court's decision, adding the mother was welcome to come pick up 7-year-old Pavel, but without any force and violence.
Vasilev further informed the mother was not allowing the two siblings to talk on the phone and accused the Polish Consul in Bulgaria of orchestrating the entire action.
The dramatic custody battle between the Polish mother and the Bulgarian father entered the media spotlight on May 28 when the mother attempted to seize the 8-year-old Nikoleta and 7-year-old Pavel from their father.
The parents are separated, but not divorced. The children refused to leave with their mother, which led to the involvement of the local police, court authorities and a representative of the social services in the town.
A fight broke out while the authorities attempted to take the children. Pavel managed to escape and his whereabouts remained unknown for a while. He is now in Asenovgrad with his father and grand-parents.
In the last two years Pavel and Nikoleta lived with their father in Asenovgrad, after Todor decided to bring them there from Poland. Barbara filed a claim with a Polish Court saying the children were kidnapped. A trial began in Bulgaria for the abduction of the children, under the international Hague Convention. Vasilev was convicted of kidnapping by the Sofia City Court and his appeal was rejected by the higher Court.
Pavel told Darik Sunday that if his mother returned for him, he would escape once again and declared he wanted to live in Bulgaria.
"The children must have a say of where they want to be and only then the court should issue a rule. The court must decide depending on where the children want to live, not their mother," Pavel said.