Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor, Boris Velchev, admitted that Aleksei Petrov, as an agent of the State Agency for National Security (DANS), had worked with the Prosecutor's Office.

Velchev spoke Thursday before the regular meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) and said Petrov had been part of at least two probes conducted jointly by DANS and the Prosecution.

Aleksei Petrov is among the 14 individuals arrested overnight Tuesday during a special police operation codenamed “Octopus.”

The Chief Prosecutor further stated that he knew about Petrov's somewhat murky reputation at the time, but explained it with the fact that he had been an undercover DANS agent, who had to be implanted among the criminals.

“While we worked with him we never had any reasons to be dissatisfied with his performance,” Velchev is quoted as saying.

When asked if Petrov, whose nickname The Tractor was revealed after his Wednesday arrest, had been connected to the notorious “The Impudent” kidnap gang, the Chief Prosecutor replied he did not have such information and the investigation is still in an early stage.

Another individual, Anton Petrov aka The Hamster, who is said to have been “The Impudent” ringleader, was also detained through the special police operation “Octopus,” giving reasons to believe that there were connections between the two groups, Velchev reminded.

To the question if Petrov had been present during his meetings with the former DANS Director, Petko Sertov, Velchev replied: “ He might have been.”

The top Prosecutor announced that most of those arrested during “Octopus” will remain behind bars, adding nobody can be kept in jail based on suspicions and there must be solid evidence.

Meanwhile, the Sofia City Prosecutor, Nikolay Kokinov, stated that his office would not request permanent detention for all 14 people arrested Wednesday.

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