The Bulgarian prosecutor’s office has officially notified Russian authorities about a request to extradite three individuals connected to the 2015 poisoning attempt against businessman Emilian Gebrev. The development was reported by a Bulgarian newspaper and cited unnamed sources familiar with the case, highlighting that the document was forwarded in the recent weeks as the investigation progressed. This marks the first formal move to bring the suspects to trial in Bulgaria, despite their indictment in absentia issued in January 2020. The report notes that the Sofia Prosecutor’s Office, operating through the Supreme Appellate Prosecutor’s Office, asked for legal cooperation from Moscow and sought a formal response from the Russian capital, which had not yet been provided at the time of publication.
Records show that roughly three years ago, Bulgarian law enforcement filed an in absentia lawsuit against three Russian nationals alleging an attempted poisoning using an organophosphate compound in 2015. The defendants were subsequently added to Bulgaria’s international wanted list as part of the ongoing international legal effort to pursue accountability for the incident. The case has continued to unfold as Bulgarian authorities seek international cooperation to advance extradition proceedings and to ensure that those accused face a Bulgarian court for a crime that left Gebrev injured and his business interests disrupted.
In related developments, Gebrev’s company has previously criticized the Bulgarian prosecutor’s office for allegedly distorting aspects of the case. The company asserted that certain facts had been misrepresented in public statements, contributing to a debate over the case’s handling and the accuracy of information released to the public. Bulgarian officials have reiterated their commitment to a transparent process and to pursuing all viable legal channels to resolve the matter. The ongoing exchanges between Sofia and Moscow reflect the broader effort to coordinate cross-border investigations into the 2015 attack and to clarify the roles of the individuals named in the charges.