Svetoslav Penov, chief commissioner and head of Sofia Prison, has appealed against the conditional early release of Kristian Nikolov, who was convicted over the death of journalist Milen Tsvetkov, the Ministry of Justice said. Penov believes there is no solid proof that Nikolov has reformed.
Nikolov stays in prison until the Sofia Court of Appeal decides whether to uphold or overturn the release.
The Sofia City Court granted his request on 22 October. It found that Nikolov's conduct was enough proof that he had reformed and that the legal conditions were met. The probation period matches the rest of his sentence: two years and two months. As a probation measure, Nikolov must join a community impact programme.
Penov had given a negative opinion on the request at the city court. After the ruling, he filed a private appeal with the appeals court. He says the court did not take into account the prison administration's reasons, and that the problem areas in the first risk assessment have not been resolved. The prison chief insists that work with the inmate should continue and be completed, so that Nikolov changes his attitude towards living within the law.
The Sofia City Prosecutor's Office also disagrees with the ruling. Prosecutors say it has not been shown that Nikolov's reform is complete.
Relatives of road crash victims and other citizens spoke out against the release and asked that Nikolov stay in prison.
Nikolov was sentenced to nine years in prison, and the verdict became final in 2023, when the Supreme Court of Cassation upheld it. He has actually spent only a third of the sentence behind bars. The time counted as served is longer, because the law also counts pre-trial detention and house arrest.
The crash happened on 19 April 2020 on Cherni Vrah Boulevard in Sofia. The car Nikolov was driving hit Milen Tsvetkov's car. The journalist died at the scene.
Follow-up: Prosecutors and prison chief appeal release of Kristian Nikolov