The Director of the Bulgarian National Revenue Agency, Krasimir Stefanov, promised Interior Minister Tsvetanov would face some very though questions related to the audit of the latter's assets and finances. Photo by BGNES
The leader of the Bulgarian conservative party Order, Law and Justice (RZS) party, Yane Yanev, demands a probe of the activities of Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, when he was Deputy Mayor of Sofia in 2005 – 2006.
Yanev said Thursday he wanted this probe included in the investigation of the parliamentary inquiry committee, whose establishment RZS requested Wednesday. They want the committee to investigate the Interior Head for tax evasion, trading in influence, money laundering, forgery of documents, and involvement in shady real estate deals.
On Wednesday, the Bulgarian left-wing Coalition for Bulgaria, led by the Socialist Party, asked for the temporary removal of Tsvetan Tsvetanov as Interior Minister over the pending tax audit. The Socialists also requested a parliamentary inquiry committee to investigate facts surrounding the Minister's assets and finances
Yanev declared Thursday, he would make more explosive revelations about Tsvetanov at the party's headquarters the next day, and hinted they involve the thrashing of a businessman who was involved in shady financing of the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party; has been a key witness in the case codenamed "Octopus," and is now abroad over fears for his and his family's safety.
RZS vowed to provide concrete names and evidence.
Last week, Yanev presented information, allegedly proving Tsvetanov had acquired six properties bought with illegal money and through ties with the ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms.
Meanwhile, the Director of the National Revenue Agency, Krasimir Stefanov, in an interview for the TV channel Nova Televizia, announced enough information has been already collected about the income of the Interior Minister's family, but the audit would last another 2 to 3 months in order to iron out all details.
Stefanov reported data from the audit: between 2000 and 2009, the family declared income of BGN 385 000, paid BGN 64 000 in taxes, leaving them with net income of BGN 320 000. All apartments they own are inherited, in exception to those in the "Iztok" district, which have been purchased through bank transactions – BGN 139 000 downpayment and a mortgage of BGN 115 000.
"I don't wish for anyone to face such audit. We will ask the Minister some very unpleasant questions," the NRA Director warned.
Stefanov pointed out he had not violated the law, as reported in many Bulgarian media, by calling Tsvetanov to let him know about the pending audit because each individual must be notified in advance by NRA about such checks.
Bulgaria's top tax agent further admitted that he called Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, to inform him know about the NRA intentions and received the PM's full backing.
On Thursday, Yanev warned Stefanov to not provide a cover-up for Tsvetanov and carry out the probe swiftly.