Doctor Ashraf Al-Hadjudj (L) was seen having a coffee in the company of Olya in front of Grand Hotel Sofia on Thursday morning. Photo by Nadya Kotseva (Sofia Photo Agency)
Palestinian-born Ashraf Al-Hadjudj, one of six medical workers arrested in 1999 on charges of infecting hundreds of Libyan children with HIV, has one more reason to be happy after tasting what freedom feels like.
The mystery over the beautiful woman who was seen in Ashraf company days after his release from Tripoli has been unveiled. Her name is Olya, a 30-year-old business lady born in the Bulgarian town of Pleven, now living and working in Sofia.
Olya captured the heart of Ashraf during an accidental meeting shortly after his arrival in the Bulgarian capital.
The couple prefers not to disclose their future plans for the time being. Ashaf was to fly to the Netherlands on Saturday, where his family lives, but claims to have firmly decided to settle down in Bulgaria.
Ashraf, who was granted Bulgarian citizenship shortly before the release, has become the most public face of the prisoners.