Bulgarian Top Cop Obstructed Recovery after Pernik Quake

Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, has obstructed the fast absorption of funds, slated by the Cabinet for people affected by the strong earthquake in the western region and city of Pernik.

The accusations against Tsvetanov, who is heading the Inter-institutional Committee for Recovery and Assistance at the Council of Ministers, were voiced Sunday by the Initiative Committee for Restoring the Damage from the Disaster, founded by the party "Bulgaria for Citizens" of former EU Commissioner, Meglena Kuneva.

The Committee, which visited the Pernik region, informed that the Cabinet had decided to halt the payment of BGN 3 M from a total of BGN 5 M slated by it for the municipalities of Pernik and Radomir.

They further reported that four months after the quake, people in the village of Dragichevo were still living in trailers and in distress.

Kuneva pointed out in outrage that those responsible for creating normal live conditions for locals affected by the disaster will celebrate the holidays lavishly, while the former will do so in trailers and in the cold.

She called on all Bulgarians to show compassion with the people in the Pernik region since the government of Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, has abdicated from this duty.

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake shook the Pernik area on May 22, damaging buildings in the city and in several other communities.

The May 22 earthquake affected over 10 000 households in the Pernik region.