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Petar Stoyanov, who was arrested during Friday's special police operation dubbed "the Killers" is a leading figure in the Bulgarian sumo world. Photo by BGNES.
The Bulgarian Minister of Interior confirmed that the President of the Bulgarian Sumo Federation Petar Stoyanov aka 'the Chieftain' has been arrested in special operation “the Killers,” launched Friday morning by the Bulgarian police.
The information was first reported Friday morning by the Bulgarian National Radio. Interior minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said that about 20 individuals have been detained. Varna24.bg reported that another sumo wrestler was arrested in the city of Varna.
Petar Stoyanov is a leading figure in the Bulgarian sumo world. He has a silver and two bronze World Medals in amateur sumo. Apart from being president of the Bulgarian Sumo Federation, he serves as a manager and coach.
The 'Chieftain' is a close friend to Bulgaria's best sumo wrestler Kotooshu, having served as the best man for Kotooshu's recent wedding.
Rumors were rife Friday about Stoyanov also holding advisory positions for the Bulgarian President and Parliament. The Secretary of the President's administration came out with an official statement refuting allegations that Stoyanov is or has ever been adviser to the President. On his part, Ognyan Stoichkov, chair of the parliamentary Committee on Education, Science, Children, Youth and Sports, confirmed that Stoyanov is an adjunct advisor for the committee.
The "Killers" special police operation announced Friday morning targets an alleged organized criminal group engaged in paid murders. Interior minister Tsvetanov said the police forces targeted persons from all links in the chain - people who paid for, organized, and actually committed murders. The police operation is carried out at five places in Bulgaria - Sofia, Varna, northern Bulgarian town of Cherven Bryag, Black Sea resort town of Kiten, and Samokov near Sofia.
Tsvetanov characterized the criminal group as "exceptionally heavy and dangerous" and said that it is the first time that criminals of this scale are arrested in Bulgaria.
One person was arrested in Varna, one in Kiten and one in Sozopol; all three were not locals but on holiday. At some of the places checked the police met resistance and found weapons.
A press-conference is expected Saturday at 12.00 EET on which minister Tsvetanov and PM Boyko Borisov will give more details on the special police operation.
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