A man writes in the condolence book next to the picture of killed Bulgarian journalist Viktoria Marinova before her funeral service in Holy Trinity Cathedral in Ruse, Bulgaria, October 12, 2018.
German authorities have approved the extradition of the suspect in the rape and murder of Bulgarian television journalist Viktoria Marinova, the prosecutor general of northern city of Celle said on Friday.
Bulgarian Severin Krasimirov, 20, who was arrested in Germany, has agreed to an expedited procedure, meaning he should be sent to Bulgaria to stand trial within 10 days, the prosecutor said.
Marinova's brutal murder has triggered a debate over the extent of press freedom in the Balkan country and the rights of journalists to pursue investigative reporting.
The mother of the 20-year-old man arrested in Germany over the rape and murder of Bulgarian TV host Viktoria Marinova said her son had admitted his guilt to her, Bulgarian TV channel NOVA said on Thursday."He admitted he did it while drunk and heavily on drugs," Nadezhda Krasimirova, told NOVA TV's reporter in Germany, where she lives. "He admitted and started to cry in front of me. He is not like that, I cannot grasp it," she added.Bulgarian prosecutors have charged Severin Krasimirov in absentia for the rape and killing and sought his extradition from Germany to stand trial in Bulgaria.The body of the 30-year-old Marinova, a host of a regional current affairs show at a local TV station, was found dead in a park near the Danube river city port of Ruse on Saturday. Police said she had been raped, beaten and strangled.Her brutal killing has shocked Bulgarians and revived the debate over the extent of press freedom in the Balkan country.Bulgarian arrested in Germany, charged with journalist's murderBulgarians mourn murdered journalist, EU calls for fast inquiry
Bulgarian mother says her son killed TV journalist
The statement said Krasimirov denied intending to kill her, raping her or robbing her.
He admitted hitting a woman who he did not know in a park on the banks of the Danube in the Bulgarian city of Ruse and then throwing her in a bush while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Hundreds of people were expected to attend a funeral service for 30-year-old Marinova in her hometown of Ruse on Friday.
A Bulgarian man has been detained in Germany and charged with the rape and murder of television journalist Viktoria Marinova, Bulgaria's chief prosecutor said on Wednesday.The man was arrested on Tuesday at the request of Bulgaria, interior minister Mladen Marinov told reporters at a briefing attended by Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.Bulgarian authorities filed the charges against the man and were expecting Germany to transfer him to their territory, the minister added. 
Bulgarian arrested in Germany, charged with journalist's murder