Bulgarian Opposition Demands Temporary Removal of Top Cop

Politics » DOMESTIC | October 20, 2010, Wednesday // 16:35
Bulgarian Opposition Demands Temporary Removal of Top Cop: Bulgarian Opposition Demands Temporary Removal of Top Cop The Deputy Chair of the Socialists' parliamentary group, Angel Naydenov announced they want an inquiry committee to investigate facts surrounding the Bulgarian Interior Minister's assets and finances. Photo by BGNES

The Bulgarian left-wing Coalition for Bulgaria, led by the Socialist Party, is asking for the temporary removal of Tsvetan Tsvetanov as Interior Minister over a pending property tax probe.

The Socialists also request a parliamentary inquiry committee to investigate facts surrounding the Minister's assets and finances, the Deputy Chair of their parliamentary group, Angel Naydenov announced.

Earlier Wednesday, members of the Parliament from the conservative Order, Law and Justice party (RZS), also demanded the establishment of such committee.

Naydenov says in addition to the National Revenue Agency, the investigation must involve the National Audit Office, the Sofia City Hall and the Interior Ministry over the fact the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party won the July 2009 elections on promises of fighting corruption and now, for the first time, precisely an individual very close to Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, symbolizing the cabinet's anti-crime efforts, is involved in such allegations.

RZS, on their part, stated the committee must probe the Interior Head for tax evasion, trading in influence, money laundering, forgery of documents, and involvement in shady real estate deals.

Last week, the RZS leader, Yane Yanev, presented information, allegedly proving that Tsvetanov had acquired six properties bought with illegal money and through ties with the ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms.

NRA already announced they would conduct a tax probe, which Yanev countered with the statement the Minister has his own "mole" inside the Agency and this individual would interfere with the audit.

Meanwhile, the Bulgarian daily "Sega" published Wednesday their own investigative report, showing Tsvetanov, between the time he left the post of Deputy Mayor of Sofia to become the GERB leader, until heading the Interior last summer had accumulated bank savings in the amount of BGN 124 000 from unclear sources.

At the time he became Deputy Mayor, the now Minister declared owning 7 properties and BGN 48 000 in family saving accounts. His tax declaration upon leaving the post has been the same. At the time he took over the police, Tsvetanov declared BGN 103 000 in savings and two apartments purchased in 2008 – one through a mortgage and another for BGN 146 000 paid in cash, meaning the source of nearly BGN 125 000 remains unexplained.

Tsvetanov firmly denies all allegations.

After days of silence, Borisov stated Tuesday he believes in his Minister 100% and gives him full support. Immediately after the PM's declaration, the GERB parliamentary group issued a similar statement.

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Tags: Angel Naydenov, tax, National Revenue Agency, Krasimir Stefanov, GERB, Movement for Rights and Freedoms, RZS, Interior Minister, DPS, properties, Yane Yanev, NRA, National Revenue Agency, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Boyko Borisov

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