Claim: Krastyo Lazarov was recruited by the pro-Bulgarian Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, and was initially part of the ceta of general Ivan Tsonchev.
Evidence: Kovačević was soon noticed by the pro-Bulgarian Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO), which recruited him into the organization. He was initially part of the četa (band) of general Ivan Tsonchev, where he became best friends with Krastyo Lazarov, the later IMRO commander of Kumanovo.