Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. File photoMOSCOW, March 19Former Bulgarian Prime Minister and leader of the GERB party, Boyko Borisov, who was detained in a case of extortion, was released from custody a day later, Sofia Globe reports. Sevdalina Arnaudova was released without charge. According to Borisov's lawyer Menko Menkov, law enforcement officers could not establish who was the subject of extortion, when, how and for what reason the offense was committed. The defense lawyer also said that he would file a corresponding complaint with the prosecutor's office. Desislava Petrova, spokeswoman for the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office, said at a briefing that, according to the investigating authorities, there is currently insufficient evidence to suggest that any of the detainees had committed a crime. According to her, bringing charges in such a situation would be a violation of the law. However, Petrova pointed out that «there are no obstacles to the further progress of the investigation and the collection of evidence sufficient for the prosecution to change this conclusion.» Immediately after his release, Borisov himself told reporters that he was afraid that he might be killed, but did not specify who it might be. 
«Why do the West need us»: Bulgarians are afraid of the conflict with RussiaOn Friday, members and supporters of the GERB party held a numerous demonstration in Sofia in support of Borisova. Borisov and other former high-ranking officials were detained during a large-scale police operation related to the investigation of more than 120 cases of abuse of EU funds in Bulgaria. However, representatives of the party of the ex-premier GERB denied the information about the detention. After Borisov's lawyer Menkov confirmed the detention of the former Prime Minister of Bulgaria for 24 hours and added that Borisov had been detained in a case of extortion.
