Bulgarian Prosecution Denies Lifting Mafia Charges of Ex Secret Agent

The Bulgarian Prosecutor's Office has announced it has not dropped the charges against former agent Aleksei Petrov for participation in the crime group codenamed "Octopus".

The statement by the prosecutor in the "Octopus" case, Svetlozar Kostov, came as an answer to Petrov's attorneys, who claimed earlier Wednesday that the pressed charges against their client were not connected to the "Octopus" case.

The attorneys also said that there has been a written statement by the Prosecutor's Office saying that the former undercover agent of the State National Security Agency (DANS) was not a defendant in the trial against the crime ring, arrested on February 10.

The Sofia City Court is expected to rule Wednesday on Petrov's defense council most recent request to release their client from jail.

The prosecutor Kostov has announced that he has not written anywhere that the former DANS agent was not part of the "Octopus" crime group.

In his words, there has been evidence for the existence of a smaller subgroup in the big group "Octopus", which has been dealing with racketeering and property crimes.

Kostov said that Petrov's second charge is for participation in this smaller subgroup. The prosecutor has explained that the charge was a tactical move and has expressed his hope that it would fasten the trial.

"The theater of the absurd called "Octopus" is over, now the circus is beginning," the former agent told courtroom reporters Wednesday.

Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, explained the latest developments with the tactics of the investigation process.

"This is only the first stage and the charges would not end here. The probe continues," the Minister pointed out.

Petrov, one of the most controversial and mysterious figures of the country's transition, was arrested on February 10, 2010, during the special police operation codenamed "Octopus," on charges of blackmail, racket, prostitution, illegal drug trading, draining of "Kremikovzi," trading in influence, money laundering, and tax evasion, among others.

The operation targeted a large-scale organized crime group. The crimes of which Aleksei Petrov and the other defendants were accused have allegedly been committed in the period 1997-2010.

Out of the 14 people arrested then only Petrov and Dzholotov are still in jail. The former DANS agent had made numerous attempts to be released.

Aleksei Petrov, who was an advisor of the former State National Security Agency DANS Director, Petko Sertov, resigned from the Agency on August 31, 2009, a month after the GERB cabinet took office, in his own words, over disagreement with the new methods of work at the institution.

Petrov claims his arrest has nothing to do with the alleged crimes and is politically motivated. According to unconfirmed reports he has filed a complaint against Bulgaria with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

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