Bulgaria Seeks Extradition of Gambling Tycoon Detained in U.A.E.

(Bloomberg) --

Bulgaria’s Justice Ministry sent an extradition request to the United Arab Emirates, where one of the Balkan country’s richest men was detained last month.

Vasil Bozhkov, who owns stakes in multiple gambling companies, was charged last month in absentia with leading an organized crime group. Prosecutors added new charges last week that accuse him of illegally holding objects of cultural .

Bozhkov owns more than 3,000 archaeological artifacts, paintings and sculptures. He denies all charges. The ministry sent the documents over the weekend to its embassy in the Emirates, it said Monday in a statement.

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