The kidnapping of the president of a leading football club and, later, his wife within the past two months has highlighted the authorities' seeming helplessness over organised crime.

ECONOMIST: Bulgaria, Romania and the EU

The kidnapping of the president of a leading football club and then his wife, within the past two months, have highlighted Bulgaria's lawlessness and the apparent helplessness of the authorities.

ECONOMIST: Bulgarian corruption

He may also be forced to give evidence in a case to do with the kidnapping in 1995 of the son of Slovakia's then president, Michal Kovac.

ECONOMIST: Slovakia: The arrest of Vladimir Meciar | The