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Attention:Ms. Karin A. FalCopy:The Wilson CompanyDallas TexasUSADate:Thursday, October 27, 2005Dear Ms. Falk,Thank you for coming and visiting me this last Monday October 24
th
, 2005. It was
unfortunate
that the visit was only 25 minutes. Also, I am dreadfully sorry that the SofiaPrison would not allow you to give me the food you so graciously bought for me and hadto carry here.Please advise Mr. Wilson that I am working on the additional materials that he asked for,including the cover for the book “PHARAOH”. I should have both ready by early November. That is, barring any further technical problems with my computer or newharassment from some prison official. It is this last issue that has me deeply concernedand also anxious. Somehow I need to impress these fears on the Bulgarian Minister for Justice, the Office of the President for the Republic of Bulgaria and Canada ForeignAffairs Ottawa. For that I need to ask for your help as a fellow Canadian and for Mr.Wilson’s help as my publisher.It seems that the Bulgaria’s Minister for Justice is unaware of my written expressions of these fears, this despite the numerous letters I have sent to his office. This worries me. Isincerely believe it to be
only due to the past interest of the Ministry for Justice thatmy current circumstances here at the Sofia Prison have improved
. This can also besaid for the Office of the President of Bulgaria, Mr. George Parvanov who has expressedan interest in the treatment of foreigners in Bulgarian prisons.However, the Warden of the Sofia prison, Mr. Dimitar Raichev, has been making threatsthat he considers these to be “privileges” and he will attempt to interrupt my work on the book with Mr. Wilson and also obstruct me from pursuing the discrimination and slander lawsuits filed in Bulgaria. These are against the Ministry for Justice’s Main Directoratefor the Execution of Punishments in Sofia (that’s the equivalent of Canada’s CorrectionServices). Warden Raichev has refused all my requests to meet with him and discuss whatit is about me that disturbs him so much.
 
I cannot offer anything concrete, and so far I am grateful that Warden Raichev istolerating me, but only just, and most certainly he is in no way supporting me or theMinistry for Justice by allowing me to work. But Warden Raichev knows that thematerials I am providing to Mr. Wilson, and collecting from the courts may ultimatelyreveal some of the corruption, mistreatment and discrimination I have suffered and havewitnessed at the Sofia Prison since 1998. Such facts are not flattering to the Sofia Prisonand I am afraid that Warden Raichev is only waiting for the smallest excuse to bring tomy work with Mr. Wilson to an abrupt end.Having said that, I wanted to ask you if during your last 12 days in Bulgaria there wasany way you could personally convey my fears by meeting with a representative from theMinistry for Justice and Office for the President of the Republic of Bulgaria? Maybe evenask a Canadian consulate representative to accompany you?Again I emphasize that no one here at the prison is bothering or interfering with my work at this moment. It is just that this fear is being exasperated by the refusal of anyone at theMinistry for Justice to discuss these concerns. It is my hope that you can make adifference.Sincere regards,Michael Kapoustin
 
The Ministry for JusticeRepublic of BulgariaOffice of the Minister The Honorable Mr. George Petkanov No. 1 Slavianski Blvd.Sofia BulgariaCopy:Government of CanadaMinistry for Foreign AffairsThe Honorable Pierre PettigrewMinister for Foreign AffairsMonday, October 31, 2005Dear Minister Petkanov,I am a citizen of Canada and visiting Bulgaria to do some photography and research for the publisher of a book on the life story of Mr. Michael Kapoustin and his Bulgariancompany’s work on a patented HIV/AIDS medicine.On October 24
th
2005, I had the opportunity to visit Mr. Kapoustin at the Sofia Prison for only 25 minutes. Oddly enough the prison Warden refused to allow me to present gifts of food to Mr. Kapoustin, and further, I was provided with no reason. During that visit Mr.Kapoustin expressed his anxiety of being persecuted and harassed by some senior prisonofficials who are against his writing this book and angry at him for having fileddiscrimination lawsuits against the prison and its staff. His fear was very real, andalthough he attempted to appear relaxed his anxiety was completely apparent to me as helater mailed me the attached letter and asked me to come and see you.Therefore, I would be grateful for a chance to visit you and express to you, or your deputy, my serious concerns as a Canadian and those of the U.S. publisher Mr. Wilsonover the safety and well being of Mr. Kapoustin at Sofia Central Prison. This is particularly relevant since Bulgaria together with the Government of Canada ischampioning the human rights of Bulgaria’s citizens in Libya.Minister Petkanov, it seems Mr. Kapoustin, as a citizen of Canada, needs some friends inBulgaria as much as Bulgaria’s citizens need friends in Libya. In researching this book for Mr. Wilson I learned that the previous Minister for Justice, Mr. Anton Stankov,communicated to Mr. Wilson that it is Bulgarian public opinion that prevented the
previous
Government of Bulgaria from transferring Mr. Kapoustin to a prison in Canadaor recommending him for parole.
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