site.btaFormer Romanian Minister Remains in Custody in Bulgaria

The Sofia Appellate Court upheld the remand of former Romanian minister Elena Gabriela Udrea. The court said on Thursday that the ruling is final. The remand had been ordered by the District Court of Blagoevgrad, Southwestern Bulgaria based on a European arrest warrant and a request for her extradition to Romania.

Elena Udrea, 48, was minister of regional development and tourism from 2009 to 2012. She was on an international wanted persons list in order to be arrested and extradited to Romania, where she is under a six years' prison sentence for accepting a bribe. She was detained at the Kulata crossing on Bulgaria's border with Greece on April 7 while attempting to leave Bulgaria.