The condition of wounded bank security guard, Stancho Stanev, is improving, doctors from the Unit for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at the Military Medical Academy in Sofia report Thursday.

The patient will begin breathing on his own on the 11th day after being listed in the Sofia hospital. He is out of the artificial coma, with clear mind, adequate reactions and able to communicate. Stanev can also sit up now and in a few days will be transfered to another unit of the Medical Academy for further therapy.

Stanev, 42, was shot on March 23, when Stefan Petrov Stefanov, 27, busted in the local branch of Investbank in the city of Sliven. The assailant took the six bank employees hostages and gradually released them with the last one being held for over 18 hours.

He surrendered to the police 39 hours after the beginning of the ordeal. The Prosecutor's Office charged him with 3 counts and he is facing life behind bars.

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