Gymnastics Coach Faces New Sexual Assault Charges Amid Ongoing Investigation

The case against gymnastics coach Yevgeny Yordanov has expanded with the police filing a new indictment declaration at Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. The new charges involve allegations of indecent acts against two teenage gymnasts who trained under him. Police expect to formally charge Yordanov by Sunday. During the hearing, the police representative stated the investigation into the new allegations has concluded and requested a five-day extension of Yordanov's detention until the indictment is filed. It was noted that no confrontations between Yordanov and the complainants occurred during previous detention extensions, and no new evidence was presented in his latest interrogation beyond what was already known.

Yordanov's defense attorney, Merav Zamir, opposed the police request, arguing that even if charges are filed, the likelihood of conviction is low. She claimed that the physical design of the gymnasts' leotards made the alleged acts impossible and requested to present the garment to the court. Zamir also contended that any contact was over the clothing, not beneath it, and that there is no longer a risk of evidence tampering since the investigation is complete. She asked for Yordanov to be released to house arrest at the Abu Kabir detention facility under more lenient conditions than those sought by the police. Judge Ravit Peleg Bar Dayan approved the defense request, citing that the police's detention extension was primarily based on public danger grounds and that the allegations relate to events from 2018 with no further investigative actions at risk. The judge ordered Yordanov's release to house arrest until the conclusion of the proceedings. The police requested a stay of the ruling until the following day and are expected to appeal.

Yordanov, a 51-year-old resident of Kiryat Ono, was previously indicted on June 14 for multiple sexual offenses against minors under his supervision, including rape, indecent acts, attempted aggravated indecent acts, privacy violations, and extortion by threats. The indictment, submitted by attorney Nitzan Friedman to the Tel Aviv District Court, details that Yordanov and his wife coached the gymnasts together, with one complainant traveling alone under his full responsibility to training camps and competitions abroad. Between 2016 and 2020, Yordanov allegedly exploited his position to commit rape and other offenses against the complainant, including threats to silence her. The indictment also accuses him of indecent acts involving unwanted touching of two complainants. The court rejected Yordanov's appeal against the publication of his name, ruling that public interest outweighs the harm to him and his family, as revealing his identity may encourage other victims to come forward. Additionally, Yordanov's wife was questioned under caution on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime, following allegations that she knew about and attempted to conceal the offenses, though the suspicion against her is weaker.