Radev calls for Sarkozy's release

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev called today for the release of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, citing his "contribution to the release of Bulgarian nurses" who were long held captive in Libya.

"I appeal to European politicians to release President Sarkozy because of his personal commitment to the release" of those nurses, Radev said.

The Bulgarian president was speaking at a ceremony at the presidential palace in Sofia where the former British ambassador to Libya was awarded a medal.

Five Bulgarian nurses have been repeatedly sentenced to death in Libya, accused of infecting 450 children with HIV in that country.

They spent more than eight years in prison before being released and returned to Bulgaria in July 2007 on the French presidential plane, accompanied by Cecilia Sarkozy, then the wife of the former French president.

Radev said he wanted to "pay tribute to a man who has made significant efforts and who, now in prison, needs support and sincere gratitude."

The Paris Court of Appeal will consider Sarkozy's request for release on Monday.

Sarkozy went to prison on October 21st to serve a five-year sentence imposed for criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya.

Sarkozy is the first former leader of modern France to be sentenced to prison. He is challenging both the verdict and the judge's unusual decision to send him to prison while he appeals.

A criminal court in Paris sentenced the former president to five years in prison in late September for "criminal conspiracy" for allowing his close associates to get close to then-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in order to finance his victorious presidential campaign in 2007.