Fog Thickens around Bulgarian PM Assassination Plot

Crime | February 22, 2013, Friday // 09:49
Fog Thickens around Outgoing Bulgarian PM Assassination Plot: Fog Thickens around Bulgarian PM Assassination Plot The Director of Bulgaria's National Intelligence Services, NIS, Dragomir Draganov, has been at the post since January, 2012. Photo by BGNES

The Director of Bulgaria's National Intelligence Services, NIS, Dragomir Draganov, denied he has information ethnic Turkish leader, Ahmed Dogan, had plotted an attack on the life of outgoing Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov.

On Thursday, speaking from the parliamentary rostrum just minutes after parliament accepted with overwhelming majority the resignation of the government of his Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, Borisov shockingly stated the leader of the ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, Ahmed Dogan, wanted him dead, citing a document from the intelligence of a foreign country.

He said he learned about a plotted assassination attempt on his life just two weeks ago, and cited information coming precisely from Dimitrov. The attempt on the outgoing PM's life, dating from the summer of 2009, just ahead of the previous general election, stemmed from him inflicting on the interests of a powerful, international organized crime group.

However, Dimitrov reports he had not received any such tipoffs since January 26, 2012, and was going to check on any earlier ones, but stressed he would not comment on classified information either way.

He is heading the intelligence agency since January 2012.

Right-wing Member of the Parliament and former NIS Head, Dimo Gyaurov, also said there was no data Dogan had participated in plotting an attack on Borisov's life, adding if there was, it would be classified and Borisov should not have known about it.

However, another NIS Chief, Gen Kircho Kirov, stated there has been such life threat and it had been a serious one. Kirov stressed he was unpleasantly surprised that classified information could be thrown out so recklessly in public space to the detriment of the security of the State. He confirmed Dogan's name had been mentioned in the tipoff, which has come from partner services of a neighboring Balkan country, but not in the context used by Borisov.

Meanwhile, Metodi Andreev, ex Head of the Files Commission, the panel investigating the secret files of the former Communist State Security, DS, broke the news before bTV that there had been a secret meeting last week between Dogan and the leader of the left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, Sergey Stanishev, where the ethnic Turkish leader asked to take over the energy sector in case they are to form the next coalition cabinet.

Andreev confirmed there had been a tipoff from a partner service about a threat on Borisov's life, mentioning Dogan's name. He reminded the latter has been a long-term DS agent, trained by it, stressing DPS is a corrupt party, detrimental to ethnic Turks in the country.

On Wednesday, Borisov made the stunning announcement he was resigning, grounding the decision on not wanting to see blood on streets and fences around the building of the Parliament. He said he was returning the power to the people who elected him in the summer of 2009.

The breaking news about Borisov's resignation came in the aftermath of large-scale protests across the country against high utility bills, leading to clashes with riot police with many injuries and vandalism.

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Tags: GERB, party, leader, ethnic Turkish, Ahmed Dogan, Boyko Borisov, Prime Minister, Communist State Security, Files Commission, Metodi Andreev, Dimo Gyaurov, Kircho Kirchev, Dragomir Draganov, NIS, National Intelligence Services, Director, Sergey Stanishev, BSP, DPS, assassination plot

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