Ivan Turchina sentenced to prison in Greece

Ivan Tsenkov, known as Ivan Turchina, has been sentenced to ten years and six months in prison in Greece for an armed jewelry store robbery in Kavala committed in August 2024.

Bulgarian authorities have been searching for Tsenkov for nearly four years in connection with a massive cash heist at the Ring Mall in Sofia in November 2022. Greek judicial sources indicate that extradition to Bulgaria is unlikely, as local practice often requires foreign criminals to serve a significant portion of their sentences within Greece.

Investigators claim Tsenkov used proceeds from his criminal activities to acquire dozens of properties in Sofia worth millions of levs. These luxury investments were reportedly purchased through his brother, who was previously arrested for real estate fraud. While Tsenkov remains in Greek custody, the related legal proceedings in Bulgaria regarding the Sofia heist remain frozen.