site.btaUPDATED Former PM Borissov Released from Custody

Opposition GERB party leader and former prime minister Boyko Borissov was released from custody on Friday evening, following his detention for 24 hours. Also released were former finance minister Vladislav Goranov and former government PR and current GERB media adviser Sevdelina Arnaudova.

On Thursday evening, Borissov, Goranov, and Arnaudova were arrested as part of what a press release of the Interior Ministry described as a large-scale law enforcement operation in connection with 120 cases of the European Public Prosecutor's Office in Bulgaria. 

Approached by reporters, Borissov commented that charges have not been brought against him. On Thursday evening, his house in Bankya was searched but nothing was found, after which the police officers informed him they had to arrest him, he explained. He added that no one questioned him while he was in custody.

According to Borissov, he was detained in relation to a case for which he was questioned back in December.

"I am afraid that next time they might kill me," he said in reply to a reporter's question. Asked who "they" are, he said, "The junta", but did not specify what he meant by that.

At a briefing later on Friday evening, Sofia City Prosecution Office Spokesperson Dessislava Petrova said that the supervising prosecutors consider the evidence gathered thus far insufficient for criminal charges to be brought against either Borissov, Goranov or Arnaudova. Bringing charges at this moment would be a violation of the law, but as the investigation continues that could change, Petkova noted. In her words, the Interior Ministry has not asked the prosecution to bring charges, contrary to what the Ministry said in a press release shortly after Borissov's release from custody.