Bulgarian Denies Any Link to Agca

The Bulgarian accused by Mehmet Ali Agca of a pivotal role in the papal shooting insisted in court today that he did not know the Turkish terrorist or anything about his plan to kill John Paul II.

It was the first appearance on the stand by Sergei Ivanov Antonov, the only Bulgarian defendant in custody, who has sat quietly in his prisoner’s cage through nearly seven weeks of court sessions.

The prosecutor unexpectedly called Antonov, 37, during Agca’s 18th day of testimony, and the Bulgarian said: “You have in front of you an innocent man. I never saw, I never met with the person who accuses me.”

He spoke through an interpreter, sitting in a chair a few feet from Agca.

State’s Evidence

It is largely due to Agca’s statements to investigators after turning state’s evidence that charges of complicity were brought against Antonov, two fugitive Bulgarian diplomats and four Turks. Antonov and two Turks are the only defendants in custody. The others are being tried in absentia.

Agca, 27, is serving a life prison term for the attack during a general papal audience May 13, 1981, in St. Peter’s Square.

Prosecutor Antonio Marini interrupted his star witness’ testimony to ask that the Bulgarian be brought out of his metal-barred cage for a confrontation with Agca. Such confrontations are common in Italian courts.

Antonov voiced his denials in a calm voice, rarely taking his eyes off the judge to look at his accuser.

Then he said: “For two years and six months I have been away from my country, my family, my friends, my colleagues because of the absurd, slanderous accusations of a person I have never met.”

Bulgarian Airline Manager

Antonov, former Rome station manager of the Bulgarian state airline, was arrested Nov. 25, 1982. He is charged with driving Agca and other gunmen to the square on the day of the attack and of helping plan the assassination attempt.

When the Bulgarian had finished, the judge asked Agca to respond.

“I have nothing against Antonov, I have nothing against the Bulgarian people. . . . Antonov is guilty,” he said. “I know Antonov very well. Whoever makes a mistake has to pay, and Antonov has to pay.”