A court in Haskovo has ordered a Russian man held in custody for up to 40 days while Russia seeks his extradition for prosecution.
The man, 40-year-old Anzor Unezhev, was detained on 10 October by border police from Svilengrad on land near the village of Sladun, in Svilengrad municipality. He has no identity papers, only a driving licence. He has four children.
His identity was established in the courtroom, where it emerged that Russia has had him on an international wanted list through Interpol since 2020, so that he can be extradited.
Russian authorities accuse him of three offences between 2007 and 2016. The first is taking part in the illegal production of firearms. The second is illegally acquiring, storing and selling firearms and ammunition. The third is organising the activity of an extremist group. The penalty under Russian law is up to 10 years in prison, prosecutor Zornitsa Prodanova said.
The court found legal grounds to hold him. It said such acts are also a crime in Bulgaria. It said the measure is meant to make sure he takes part in the full extradition proceedings, because he has no valid documents and no known address in Bulgaria.
In court, the man denied the charges and asked not to be held. He said the videos online that show him modifying a weapon and handing it to another person are fake, and that he does not know how the weapon was made. He added that he worked as a welder and is innocent.
He also said he has lived in Turkey for the past 10 years, where he was given political asylum, and that he wants the same protection in Bulgaria. His identity documents expired in Turkey, and he crossed into Bulgaria over the green border to seek protection in a European country.
The ruling can be appealed or challenged by prosecutors before the Court of Appeal in Plovdiv within three days.