The Sofia City Court has ordered the detention of two former Ukrainian military personnel in Bulgaria, accusing them of espionage, as reported by BTA.
The decision, announced on Thursday, April 23, is subject to appeal.
The court indicated there is enough evidence supporting the charges and potential risks of fleeing or committing a crime due to the seriousness of the allegations.
The charges fall under Article 104 of the Criminal Code, related to releasing or collecting state secret information for foreign entities, with penalties ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison, life imprisonment, or life imprisonment without parole.
In March, proceedings began to reconsider the detention of the two Ukrainian nationals—a retired lieutenant from the Unmanned Systems Department and a former airborne assault soldier—arrested earlier this year near a Bulgarian military facility.
The two Ukrainians, aged 41 and 32, were held on January 12. Unconfirmed reports suggest espionage charges in favor of Ukraine, according to BNT.
Both men are retired from the Ukrainian army and have resided in Spain for a year.
The 41-year-old worked with Unmanned Military Systems, and the 32-year-old was a paratrooper. Due to the classified nature of the investigation, neither legal representatives nor prosecutors have commented.
The case was postponed pending medical evaluations of the defendants.
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