| Evelin Banev "Brendo" | |
|---|---|
Banev at a public appearance in 2011 |
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| Born | Evelin Nikolov Banev October 8, 1964 Burgas, Bulgaria |
| Occupation |
Entrepreneur, Self-Made Technology, Real Estate, Financial Institutions |
Evelin Banev "Brendo" (Bulgarian: Евелин Банев - Брендо; October 8, 1964) is a self-made Bulgarian businessman and serial entrepreneur. Brendo accumulates his initial capital through a number of successful transactions on the international stock markets during the Dot-Com Bubble. After 2001, he shifts to the Bulgarian financial and real estate markets.
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Evelin Banev “Brendo” was born Evelin Nikolov Banev on 8 October 1964 in Burgas, Bulgaria. He spends his childhood and early teen years in the city of Topolovgrad, where he lives with his mother.[1]
In Topolovgrad, at the age of 9, Brendo begins practicing wrestling. In 1982, he completes his secondary education in Topolovgrad. Between 1982 and 1984, Banev serves his mandatory military term in the city of Yambol.
Since 1985, when he enrolls at the "National Sports Academy", Brendo has lived in Sofia, Bulgaria. During his time at the Academy, Banev travels frequently outside of Bulgaria to international camps, tournaments and wrestling competitions representing his club team "Academic - Sofia" and the Bulgarian National Wrestling Team. Banev is a Master of Sport in Bulgaria and wrestled in category of 74 kg. under the legendary Dimitar Dobrev.
After the end of his sports career, Banev receives a bachelor’s degree at an Ukrainian institute of economics.
After the political changes in 1989, Brendo spends most of his time outside of Bulgaria. By skillfully using his overseas contacts and positions, Banev accumulates hundreds of millions of dollars during the Dot-com bubble.
Supposedly, Brendo is the master-mind of large speculative deals on the stock markets as well as with various international funds. For example:
Meanwhile, Brendo is also an active figure in speculative deals in Bulgaria. His notorious partnership with Ivan Todorov “The Doctor” is one reason why Brendo is associated with the Bulgarian underground. Banev registers a joint company with The Doctor in 1998, East Finances Ltd, and leaves it a year later.[2] Allegedly, Brendo and The Doctor are behind the mysterious disappearance of nearly 6000 master boxes of cigarettes and 2 trucks with coffee from a warehouse in Kazichene (stock worth approximately $ 4.5million).[3]
Since about 2000, Banev has systematically been building his empire of successful businesses in Bulgaria.
Banev is connected to the leasing company "Private Finance Union" AD (PFU AD) and a number of companies in the construction and real estate sectors.
Brendo’s name is often linked with the Bulgarian organized crime. However, Banev has a clear criminal record. Evelin Banev can rarely be seen with bodyguards. He is usually alone or with friends and does not flaunt money or status. People who know him regard him as extremely smart, cautious, and considerate; his associates insist he has never been a part of the Bulgarian organized groups VIS and SIC. This is confirmed by the fact that Banev is not in any structures or business ventures with people from the underground.
Banev is not a public figure and avoids the media. But in October 2008 he has an unprecedented appearance as a guest of George Koritarov in the popular morning show on NOVA TV "Hello Bulgaria”. On air, Banev says that he was invited in writing to a meeting with the Interior Minister Rumen Petkov, who requested Brendo’s assistance – i.e. to falsely testify against “the Margin” brothers. According to Brendo, his refusal to cooperate with the Minister is the main reason behind the 2007 charges for money laundering against him.[4][5]
In April 2007, the Sofia City Prosecutor raises charges against Banev for organizing a criminal group and money laundering. Subsequently, Banev is arrested and released on bail.[6]
Brendo’s case causes a media stir once again in 2008 when Switzerland agreed to lift its bank secrecy and to submit bank documentation to the Bulgarian authorities. Later, it was made public, that in its requests for judicial assistance to Switzerland, the Bulgarian Prosecutor's Office has sent false information – i.e. stating that Banev is accused of drug trafficking and distribution rather then of money laundering.[7]
In September 2009, Sofia City Prosecutor Nikolai Kokinov explains that the case against Brendo still can not start due to procedural violations on behalf of the prosecution.[8] Later, in April 2010, Sofia City Court (SCC) lifts the travel restriction against Banev - according to the court, the prosecution has abused its authority.[9] The judge's ruling also states that the prosecution "does not work towards the discovery of the objective truth, but burdens with expenses and bureaucracy the legal process". [10]
As of August 2011, Brendo’s case is still dragging on with court hearings being postponed at the request of the prosecution. In relation to the case, various Bulgarian media and EU commission reports comment on the groundless accusations and the abuse of power by the prosecution.[11]