January 10 – Bulgaria’s National Assembly is to debate the case of Botev Plovdiv’s Russian owner Anton Zingarevich, who has been banned from entering the country.
Last year, the Russian businessman received a ten-year ban on entering Bulgaria, with the State Agency for National Security announcing that Zingarevich (pictured) poses a threat to national security.
At the end of December, Botev Plovdiv management initiated a meeting with representatives of several political parties in Bulgaria requesting more information about the case, with politicians promising they would take the case to the National Assembly of Bulgaria.
They kept their promise and submitted to the registry of the National Assembly a request to hear the Chairman of the State Agency for National Security, as well as the Chairman of the State Agency for Intelligence, detail the reasons for the ban on Zingarevich.
“On 23.12.2024, a meeting was held between the management of PFC Botev and members of parliament from 16 Plovdiv MIR, at which the latter made a commitment and expressed their readiness to cooperate jointly in finding a solution that would clarify what is happening with the majority owner of the club, Mr. Anton Zingarevich,” said a club statement.
“As a result of the meeting, we inform you that on 08.01.2025, a request was officially submitted to the registry of the National Assembly for a hearing of the Chairman of the State Agency for National Security – Mr. Plamen Tonchev, as well as the Chairman of the State Agency for Intelligence – Mr. Antoan Gechev, regarding the reasons that led to the restrictions imposed on the benefactor of our club.
“The management of PFC Botev thanks the Bulgarian elected representatives for the commitment made and fulfilled. With this action, they proved that they are people who keep their word,” concluded the statement.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at moc.l1736502671labto1736502671ofdlr1736502671owedi1736502671sni@o1736502671fni1736502671