Bulgarian former Minister of Interior and GERB party vice-chair Tsvatan Tsvetanov has said he is ready to withdraw from politics if journalists have been spied upon during his term as minister.

He was however resolute in denying that no such events happened, and that he has used his control over the police to serve his private and party interests.

His statement comes just ahead of May 12 early elections, scheduled after street protests toppled the cabinet of Tsvetanov's colleague and GERB leader Boyko Borisov.

Days before Borisov's resignation, investigative website Bivol.bg published the so-called "Buddha" police file, implicating Borisov in a network of criminal activities in the 1990s.

But last week, Bivol.bg claimed that Bulgarian police had initiated an investigation against some of their key writers, under the codename "Buddhali" (i.e., fools).

Saturday Bulgaria's prosecution confirmed it is probing Bivol journalists Atanas Tchobanov and Assen Yordanov.

Later the "Anti-Mafia" civic movement published allegations that as a minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov had organized a special unit of police officers to service his private and partisan interests, including by intimidating opponents.

"If anyone proves conclusively that there was such a "private" police unit that spied on journalists while I was minister, I will withdraw right away from all positions I occupy, I will step down from politics," said Tsvetanov for bTV.

He moreover denied having any knowledge of the "Buddhali" investigation.

The former minister of interior commented that all of the above allegations against him are blatantly false, and that he is ready to have their veracity checked by the requisite authorities.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!