Former BDB head Stoyan Mavrodiev detained in Belgrade, extradition procedure begins

The former executive director of the state-owned "Bulgarian Development Bank" (BDB), "Stoyan Mavrodiev", has been detained in Belgrade. His identity was confirmed through an exchange of information between Bulgarian and Serbian authorities. The prosecutor's office and the Ministry of the Interior are already preparing the necessary documents to request his extradition to Bulgaria.

"Mavrodiev" was declared a national fugitive in 2024, and a European arrest warrant was issued against him. He is accused of large-scale embezzlement in connection with a nearly 150 million BGN loan granted by the BDB to a company linked to "Rumen Gaitanski – The Wolf".

The charges: 150 million BGN loan and 30 million BGN for repaying a TPP "Varna" loan

According to the indictment, about 20% of the loan – approximately 30 million BGN – was immediately used to repay a loan or credit that TPP "Varna" had with another bank. At that time, the owner of TPP "Varna" was "Ahmed Dogan".

These details form the basis of the suspicions regarding the misuse of state bank resources and personal enrichment of related parties through credit schemes.

Mavrodiev's path: from Greece through the UAE to Serbia

In August 2024, it became clear that "Stoyan Mavrodiev" was on the territory of Greece. Later, information emerged that he had left the country on August 16, heading towards the Republic of North Macedonia.

According to data from booking systems, "Mavrodiev" traveled by plane to the United Arab Emirates, and then again by air to Serbia. It was based on these booking details that the Bulgarian authorities notified their Serbian partners that Mavrodiev was expected to arrive in Belgrade.

Ministry of the Interior reaction: "There will be no people above the law"

Shortly after the news of the arrest, Interior Minister "Ivan Demerdzhiev" commented on the case on his "Facebook" profile.

"When the state works, results come. There will be no people above the law. Regardless of whether their last name is Mavrodiev or Mihaylov, the law is the same for everyone and it is now being applied," wrote Demerdzhiev.

Extradition procedure is just beginning

All documents that must be sent within an 18-day period to the Serbian authorities with a formal request for the extradition of "Stoyan Mavrodiev" have been prepared.

How the court proceedings in Serbia regarding this request will unfold will become clear in the coming months, and possibly years. The final decision will be in the hands of the Serbian court, which must assess the conditions for handing over the accused to the Bulgarian authorities.