A new protest due to the lack of justice brought together relatives and sympathizers in the case of the murder of Evgenia Vladimirova - the young woman found dead in a suitcase in 2021. The case took a turn after the Sofia Court of Appeal reduced the sentence of her husband Orlin Vladimirov from life imprisonment to 20 years, and his father Plamen Vladimirov was completely acquitted.
In the program “Na Fokus“ on Nova TV, Evgenia's brother spoke to the media for the first time. According to him, the decision is “an absolute disgrace” and leaves a feeling of a “second murder“.
“My sister left me a child, who I take care of. I also have two children of my own – all three are small. I try to protect their psyche from what is happening“, he said.
On October 13, 2021, Evgeniya's child came home from school and learned that his mother had disappeared. According to the brother, the father reported this after he had already killed his wife and, together with his grandfather, hid her body in a suitcase. A month later, the two were arrested. “This child lost not only his mother, but also his father. He lost his whole world“, he says.
According to him, the acquittal for Plamen Vladimirov was motivated by a text in the law according to which a close relative who hid a crime is not criminally liable. “But he is not just a cover-up - he is an accomplice“, said the victim's brother.
According to him, Plamen Vladimirov arrived at the scene after the murder prepared - with gloves, participated in wrapping the body and carrying it out in a suitcase, which was later dumped in a swamp near Pernik. “The three judges decided that you can carry a suitcase with a dead body through the streets and that is normal”, he said.
Evgenia's brother claims that the murder was committed intentionally. “On October 13, she was at home. He came up behind her and started choking her. In my opinion, this lasted 7-8 minutes. She fought for her life and realized that the person who killed her was her husband,“ he said.
According to him, after Evgenia's death, Orlin called his father and said: “Father, I've finished the job“. For the family, this is a sign of preliminary preparation.
“Nobody spends 20 years in prison. They'll let him go after 5-6. Then he can get married and kill another woman“, he said. According to him, the reasons for reducing the sentence may be related to Orlin Vladimirov's age and education and the assumption that he will reform. “Eight judges previously said that there was enough evidence for a life sentence. Now three are deciding differently. This is a mockery of our family,“ he said. Evgenia's body was discovered a month after the murder. "I couldn't say goodbye to my sister. I was advised not to open the coffin," her brother said.
According to him, the motive for the murder was jealousy, fear and anger, after Eugenia wanted a separation. "This is something I will regret for the rest of my life - that I didn't support her enough to break up with him," he admitted.
The family says they will continue to seek justice. "It feels like a second murder. There is no justice," Eugenia's brother concluded.