A EUR 620 000 ransom has allegedly been paid by the family of kidnapped businessman Kiro Kirov at a secret location close to the capital Sofia, Standart daily reported.

The news of the hand-over was confirmed later on Monday by Kirov's son.

Kiro Kirov's son Ivan allegedly succeeded at the second attempt to pay the required sum. However, 73-year-old Kiro has still not been freed. The Standart reported that the money was handed over under a bridge Sunday night on the Trakia highway. Ivan Kirov personally delivered the money into the hands of the kidnappers, who were allegedly driving a black BMW X5 with fake Burgas registration plates.

A EUR 1 M ransom had allegedly been requested last week for Bulgarian businessman Kiro Kirov, who was kidnapped on March 27 in Bulgaria's capital Sofia.

Kirov is allegedly being held by a group of kidnappers across the border in Greece.

The 73-year-old has been missing since March 27. His SUV was found by his son in front of his house in the Sofia's Bankya Quarter with open doors, and headlights turned on.

Kiro Kirov is the CEO of Kirov Holding which includes a number of firms for the production of furniture, a textile firm, a transport firm, and firms importing construction equipment and machines, including of the Bosch brand.

In 2007, Kirov Holding had a turnover of BGN 204 M. Kirov is a machine engineer, and a graduate of the Sofia Technical University.