Bulgaria seeks gambling tycoon’s extradition from UAE

Bulgaria has requested the United Arab Emirates to extradite gambling millionaire Vasil Bozhkov, who has been charged in absentia with extortion, influence peddling and money laundering, the country’s Justice Ministry announced yesterday.

The exiled gaming tycoon denied any wrongdoing, and has refused to return to the Black Sea country for fears for his life, he said.

The Bulgarian Justice Ministry previously said that it had sent an extradition request and more than 200 pages of evidence translated to Arabic to the Emirati authorities.

Reuters, citing Bulgarian television, said Bozhkov has been released from detention in the Emirate of Dubai but has been banned from leaving the UAE following the seizure of his passport.

“We want him returned to Bulgaria to be brought before the Bulgarian court,” Bulgarian chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev said.