Sofia Court Conditionally Released the Killer of Milen Tsvetkov
Kristiyan Nikolov, sentenced to nine years in prison for the death of journalist Milen Tsvetkov, has been conditionally released by Sofia City Court.
Conditional Early Release for Milen Tsvetkov's Killer Despite Prosecution Objections
Sofia City Court ordered the early conditional release of Kristiyan Nikolov — sentenced to nine years imprisonment for the murder of journalist and television presenter Milen Tsvetkov in a crash over Easter 2020. The decision was taken despite explicit objections from the prosecution and the prison administration, according to Novinite.com.
The presiding judge Viktor Chaushev stated that the decision cannot turn back time, nor ease the pain of Tsvetkov's relatives, but expressed hope that the convicted man has realised the gravity of his act.
"Mr. Nikolov, you cannot turn back time, nor can you reduce the grief of his relatives. I only hope that you have realised that such an lapse — one moment of negligence — can lead to irreversible consequences. And I hope you will take steps to be of benefit to society, not just to yourself," said Chaushev.
Sentence Served Half-Way
Nikolov, born in 1998, was sentenced in 2023 for Tsvetkov's death, whose car struck a red light in Sofia. During the incident he was driving at excessive speed and had used amphetamines, cocaine and marijuana.
At the time of the court hearing, Nikolov had served five years, seven months and one day of his sentence. An additional one year, four months and 26 days were deducted for work performed in prison. With these calculations, he had two years and two months remaining. The law permits application for early conditional release after serving half the sentence.
Prosecution and Prison Opposed, Defence Arguments for Rehabilitation
The prosecutor and prison administration opposed the application, submitted by Nikolov's lawyer Ivo Naydenov. Both sides acknowledged progress in his rehabilitation but noted that he had not completed his individual rehabilitation plan.
The defence stressed that Nikolov had attended all offered courses, including a programme for overcoming addiction. His cellmates had elected him "mayor" — a cell representative to the administration — and he himself had translated between two languages in assistance to staff. At the time of the crash he was studying in Berlin.
The lawyer presented a job offer from a private company "Dea 2024", ready to employ Nikolov immediately upon his release. The prosecutor, however, noted that the company belongs to the convicted man's mother.
Nikolov's Final Statement
In his final statement, Nikolov again expressed condolences to Tsvetkov's relatives and said he would regret his act for the rest of his life.
"I cannot turn back time. I accepted responsibility and began the rehabilitation process. From the first day in prison I have worked — both for the administration and in assistance to other inmates. I translate from two languages and represent inmates to the administration. I also attend courses offered by the prison — on drug addiction, as well as on construction and architecture. I ask for a chance to be of use to society outside and to successfully reintegrate," said Nikolov, cited by Nova TV.
Lawyer Naydenov noted that the risk assessment for the danger Nikolov presents to society is minimal, and cited his work as a translator and trainer of prison staff as evidence of rehabilitation. He also described the judge's reasoning as thorough.
Prosecution Will Appeal
The court imposed probation measures related to drug addiction. The prosecution will appeal the decision before Sofia Appellate Court, which can be challenged within a seven-day period.
Source: Novinite.com