The 49-year-old Bulgarian man, whose extradition is being sought by the US on charges of selling US microchips and other high-tech components to Russia, has been released on bond and bail.vehicle» a Bulgarian company – «showcase,” bypassing trade restrictions set by the US government.

The Council of Appeals of Thessalonikiwhich is asked to give an opinion on the American extradition request, postponed – for legal reasons – the discussion of the case scheduled for today, accepting – at the same time – the request of the wanted person to replace his temporary detention with restrictive conditions, until the extradition is decided of or not in the US.

The 49-year-old was arrested last December by Greek police officers in the area of ​​Sidirokastro Serres, as an international warrant was pending against him and since then he has been detained in Diavati prisons.

According to the version of the wanted person, he was arrested when he returned to Bulgaria after a trip he made to Thessaloniki to visit a friend.

What the 49-year-old claims

Through his lawyers, he denied the charges of “fraud against the government” and “criminal money laundering” attributed to him by the American judicial authorities, stressing that he has nothing to do with illegal exports to Russia.

He declared himself the technical director of the Bulgarian company in question, the corporate form of which, he said, is a limited liability company and owned by his compatriot named in the court documents.

With regard to the technological components in question, the wanted side claimed that they did not “these are dangerous species» nor is a special license required for their marketing.

It was emphasized that the actions attributed to him, as described by the Americans, are not independently reflected in the Greek legal order.

The case was adjourned because the Judicial Council accepted the request of his advocates for the Americans to send additional documents they collected regarding his alleged action and to be confronted with documents, invoices, etc. documents that he will provide himself from the Bulgarian company.

It was decided to release him until the American request is decided, with the restrictive conditions of a ban on exiting Greece – with a declaration of a specific residence, his appearance at a police station and payment of a 5,000 euro bond.

Why is the US blaming him?

The U.S. District Court (Western District of Texas) had issued an arrest warrant against him charging him with acts that carry multiple years in prison under U.S. law.

As described in court documents, sensitive high-tech components such as microchips were exported between 2014-16 from USA to Bulgariawhere they were repackaged and sent, via the company in question, to Russia, in violation of trade restrictions imposed by the USA.

Two engineering companies, cooperating with each other, appear as recipients. based in Moscowwhile among other things, an order of 1.7 million dollars is mentioned.