Kristian Vigenin. Photo: BGNES
Bulgaria's former foreign minister Kristian Vigenin denied insinuations that the arrest of Vladimir Putin opponent Nikolai Kobliakov is result of Moscow's pressure on Bulgaria.
Vigenin told the Bulgarian National Radio that the authorities acted according to procedure and are not to blame that they did not recognise Kobliakov.
“Koblaikov himself tried to suggest that because Bulgaria, being too close to Moscow, was pressed to arrest him by Kremlin,” Vigenin said. “There is no such thing. We acted according to the standard procedure when we apprehend someone wanted by the Interpol, so such insinuations are unfounded.”
Upon his release on recognizance on Friday, Kobliakov told Bulgarian journalists that Russian authorities knew where he lives in France, but never tried to arrest him. “This happens in Bulgaria, because it is not very independent,” he said.