The Sofia Appellate Court affirmed a lower court’s decision on Friday, denying an application for the early release of Evelin “Brendo” Banev, who is currently incarcerated in Sofia for drug trafficking charges. The initial denial of the early release request occurred at the Sofia City Court on March 27, 2026. The application was submitted by the head of the Sofia Prison, where Banev is serving a ten-year sentence following convictions in Bulgaria, Italy, and Romania.
Following the submission of the request, caretaker Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov suspended the prison head, Borislav Chobanski, after it was revealed that he had initiated the release application for Banev. The first-instance court determined that Banev had not completed more than half of his total sentence, which is a prerequisite for considering early release. Consequently, the court deemed that the second condition, relating to good behavior, could not be assessed.
Furthermore, Prosecutor Gergana Kyurkchiyska stated that Banev had not furnished conclusive evidence demonstrating that the time served had achieved its intended corrective purpose. Evelin “Brendo” Banev was initially arrested in 2012 during a joint Bulgarian-Italian law enforcement operation. He was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in Italy for his alleged involvement in an international cocaine-trafficking ring.
In July 2018, the Sofia City Prosecution Office issued a European Arrest Warrant for his apprehension to complete a six-year sentence, as his whereabouts were unknown. Banev, who had been subject to Interpol Red Notices since 2018, surrendered to Bulgarian authorities on June 24, 2024, and was transferred to Sofia’s Central Prison. Subsequently, a Bulgarian court ruled in April 2025 that Banev would serve a total of ten years and six months in Bulgaria for crimes committed across Bulgaria, Romania, and Italy, adjusting for time already detained.
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