Czech PM: Bulgaria Plays Political Games with CEZ

The move of Bulgarian Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov to revoke the license of Czech-owned power distributor CEZ Bulgaria is a political game, according to Czech Prime Minister, Petar Necas.

"I am deeply convinced that that the entire case of CEZ is a political affair," Necas has said, quoted by the Prague Daily Monitor.

He has further stressed that Tsatsarov's charges against CEZ have not been investigated by any independent regulatory body.

Czech media, cited by the Bulgarian BTA, further remind the Czech State is the one having the majority stake in the CEZ company.

"If you look at the structure of energy prices in Bulgaria, you find out that rather than the CEZ distributor, renewable sources have a much higher share in their growth. Besides, we can only speculate how close Tsatsarov is to former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov who has in fact set the whole case into motion. No one but an independent regulator can revoke a license. We can only hope that Bulgaria will proceed in keeping with the principles of rule of law and European standards," Necas had stated.

He had further noted that the Czech Republic recently advocated for Bulgaria's Schengen membership.

Necas' words come on the heels of news that the prosecution in Bulgaria has requested the revocation of the company's license over massive regulatory breaches, revealed by Tsatsarov.