Ukrainians Accused of Murdering Bulgarian Premier Plead Not Guilty

The City Court of Sofia (Bulgaria) has suspended a member of the panel of judges from the case of Ukrainian nationals Oleksandr Rusov and Oleksiy Kychatov, suspected of slaying Bulgarian former Premier Andriy Lukanov, for his “biased attitude toward the defendants,” Interfax- Ukraine quoted Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Press Service Chief Serhiy Borodenkov as saying on November 20. Both suspects have pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them. The trial of a group of individuals suspected of having plotted and committed the murder of Premier Lukanov in 1996 began on November 19 in Sofia. Rusov has been accused of committing the murder and Kychatov of mediating in the contract murder deal. The trial is to last until November 30. Lukanov was shot dead near his house on October 2, 1996.