The Deputy Sofia Mayor, who is charge for the transport issues, Velizar Stoilov, has officially resigned Monday over allegations of illegally letting out 49 lines of the capital's public transport. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
The Deputy Sofia Mayor, who is charge for the transport issues, Velizar Stoilov, has officially resigned Monday over allegations of illegally letting out 49 lines of the capital's public transport.
Mayor Boyko Borisov announced he had personally asked Stoilov to hand in his resignation after the deputy confirmed the validity of the recently published facts, concerning the lines' privatization.
The move was made after a phone call tape proved Stoilov was involved in a corruption scheme within the privatization process.
"The tape was made and its spreading was delayed so that Stoilov's team could be blackmailed," Borissov explained.
He underlined his party GERB has nothing to do with the scandal.
The authorities were signaled over the abusing activities by municipal councilors from the Socialist party in September, they themselves reported.
They claim the renting public tender has been repeatedly ceased and restarted. At the end, it was continued with no changes in its documentation although the Competition Protection Commission tried to stop it due to improper conditions.
There has recently been announced that 49 of Sofia public transport lines will be managed by the two companies Karat S and MTK.