Bulgarian PM Dismisses 'WikiLeaks'-Alleged Ties to Lukoil, Russia

Politics » DOMESTIC | May 26, 2011, Thursday // 17:14
Bulgaria: Bulgarian PM Dismisses 'WikiLeaks'-Alleged Ties to Lukoil, Russia Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has repeatedly rejected allegations of exchanging favours with Lukoil Bulgaria CEO Valentin Zltavev. Photo by BGNES.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has refuted allegations from US diplomatic cables posted on WikiLeaks that he has informal ties to underworld figures, businessmen and diplomats.

Borisov dismissed the content of the newly released cable of former US Ambassador to Bulgaria John Beyerle as unconfirmed and untrustworthy.

"I do not read WikiLeaks. I talked to US Ambassador James Warlick, who said that the publications were based on unconfirmed sources and it was futile to comment on them.", Borisov stated with regard to the scandalous report about him from 2006.

In the cable titled BULGARIA'S MOST POPULAR POLITICIAN: GREAT HOPES, MURKY TIES, Beyrle pays special attention to the relationship between the then Mayor of Sofia, Borisov and the CEO of Lukoil Bulgaria, Valentin Zlatev, pointing out "Borisov has close financial and political ties to Lukoil Bulgaria Director Valentin Zlatev, a vastly influential kingmaker and behind-the-scenes power broker. Borisov's loyalty (and vulnerability) to Zlatev play a major role in his political decision making."

The document further claims that Zlatev has financed various projects during Borisov's mayoral tenure in exchange for municipal land which he used to build filling stations.

"As far as I know, they have not published anything positive about anybody yet. They also cite yellow publications and comments of various political parties", Borisov told journalists at the opening of the seventh global meeting of Bulgarian media in the Hague.

When asked about the nature of his friendship with Zlatev, Borisov said that he was not a custodian of the businessman.

"In my term in office as mayor of Sofia, I have not approved the construction of one single filling station. I will not comment on yellow press publications", Borisov snapped.

He also ruled out claims that Valentin Zlatev was a factor in Bulgaria's relations with Russia.

"Bulgaria is a country which defends its national interest- it works equally well with the U.S, the EC and Russia. The only time Zlatev and I were together was at the inauguration of the Russian Church and the monument, for which he helped", the Bulgarian Prime Minister explained.

Borisov went on to qualify allegations of overly frequent visits to the Russian Embassy as speculations, urging journalists to refrain from such practices.

Regarding accusations of his involvement in meta-amphetamines trafficking, the Prime Minister commented that in 2002, 2003 and 2004 Bulgaria was the country with the biggest amounts of seized amphetamines.

Earlier Thursday, the US Embassy in Sofia refused to comment on documents supposedly classified as top secret.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) has warned it may notify the Prosecutor's Office about the matter.

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Tags: Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, John Beyrle, James Warlick, US Ambassador, Valentin Zlatev, Lukoil Bulgaria, US Embassy, The Hague, seventh global meeting of Bulgarian media

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