Dimitar Zhelyazkov

Dimitar Zhelyazkov is a Bulgarian criminal from Nessebur, known as Mityo Ochite^[1] (The Eyes). He was arrested with sixteen of his associates in 2007, on charges of taking part in an organized drug smuggling and weapons smuggling ring. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after years of suspicion about his involvement in the distribution of drugs, smuggling, and racketeering.

History as a criminal

In 2001 his wife and brother were killed following the explosion of a car bomb outside their home in Nessebur. Investigators contend that the bomb was meant to punish Zhelyazkov for his crimes.

In 2005 he was linked to a bomb explosion which killed a 2-year-old infant. During the height of the 2005 tourist season a bomb went off beneath a luxury SUV which was owned by Rali Penkov, a former policeman, in the resort town of Obzor.

In February 2008 Zhelyazkov admitted to being a drug boss, and pleaded guilty to every charge which was brought against him, by the prosecutor in Burgas. He went further in agreeing to cooperate with prosecutors who were conducting other investigations.^[2]

Imprisoned

He was sentenced to 4 to 5 years in jail and his property, amounting to $18,000, was confiscated.^[1] After a media uproar concerning preferential treatment for a drug lord, Zhelyazkov was sent to Belene Prison, on the Danube River, on the opposite side of Bulgaria from Burgas. On June 8, 2009 it was decided by officials at Belene to transfer Zhelyazkov to a low security facility. He was transported to Kazichene Prison near Sofia, Bulgaria. He was returned to Belene after becoming involved in a fight with another prisoner at Kazichene.^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} A Happy Scapegoat, Novinite, February 10, 2008, internet article.
2. ^ ^{a b} The Wandering Criminal, Sofia Echo, Friday, August 21, 2009, internet article.

Persondata
Name	Zhelyazkov, Dimitar
Alternative names
Short description	Bulgarian criminal
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death