Doctor Atanas Krastev Has Been Freed
17 June 2011 News
The Bulgarian medic Doctor Atanas Krastev, detained by the Libyan authorities on March 29th, 2011, has been freed early this morning. Together with his wife and their newborn child, he was taken out of Lybia and is currently in Tunisia, from where he will later depart to Bulgaria. “A ‘thank you’ to everyone who worked diligently and discreetly to preclude that the story of this family turns into another saga. A ‘thank you’ to all friends of Bulgaria, who are located in Libya, and also on the terriotry controlled by Gaddafi and in the regions controlled by the rebels. Many of our compatriots continue to live and work within the country”, declared Nickolay Mladenov regarding the case. Its happy resolution is the result of active quiet diplomatic efforts and official diplomatic actions.
Doctor Krastev has been working in Lybia for many years as head of the orthopedic department in the hospital in the city of Msallata. Initially, he was taken in for interrogation after a check of his computer and a search that ascertained that there are photographs, which according to those who investigate the case can be taken as evidence aimed to discredit the regime of Col. Gaddafi. The Bulgarian embassy in Tripoli was informed about the case by accident on April 2nd, 2011 and immediately undertook actions. The same day, representatives of the embassy contacted Doctor Krastev's wife with the objective of clearing up the circumstances around the detainment. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Nickolay Mladenov himself took charge of handling and coordinating the case. He led a series of conversations with high-level Lybian officials for the destiny of our compatriot. During this whole time, from the detainment to the happy resolution of the case, Minister Mladenov was in constant contact with the Bulgarian diplomats in Tripoli, Tunisia and the MFA Crisis Center. Maximum pressure, as afforded by the circumstances within the country and the nature of the issue, was exercised over the Lybian authorities for concluding the case.
Atanas Krastev and his Family Return to Bulgaria
The Bulgarian medic Atanas Krastev and his family are returning to Bulgaria on June 18th, 2011 with an Air France flight arriving at 10.20 p.m., at Terminal 2 of the Sofia Airport.
They will be met by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dimiter Tzantchev.
An audiorecording of the briefing of the MFA spokesperson from today can be heard under the photograph.