Bulgaria Wannabe Mafia MPs "Hold People on a Leash"

Two of Bulgaria's alleged mafia bosses, who are running for MPs because it gives them immunity, have been said to hold the citizens of their western town of Dupnitsa on a leash.

"It is not that people like them, they depend on them - emotionally, financially, corporatively," Parvan Dangov, former mayor of the town of Dupnitsa, said in an interview for local 24 Hours daily.

Dangov, who is among the few opponents in the town of the two alleged mobsters, Plamen Galev and Angel Hristov, said his successor stands fully behind and unconditionally supports them, together with numerous members of the Bulgarian Socialist Party.

The pair, who were in custody on charges of torture, prostitution, blackmail, extortion and drugs running, were released on Tuesday on bail of BGN 50,000 each and got down to carrying out their election campaigns. Should the two make their way to parliament in the general elections next month, they will be free from prosecution during the four-year-term.

According to Dupnitsa former mayor the situation in the small town has changed dramatically after the mobsters' release.

"Despite that none of the political parties here has issued a statement on this case. The first people to welcome Plamen Galev and Angel Hristov after their release from jail were mayor Atanas Yanev and the chairman of the Municipal Council," Dangov said.

"So far their murky maneuvers were behind the curtains, but now I am sure they will harness all their energy to win the elections."

The former mayor called on the Bulgarian people to slam the entry of underworld figures in Bulgaria's politics and stand as corrective to the court.

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