
Aleksei Petrov (r) speaks to journalist Sasho Dikov (l) before entering the courtroom Tuesday. Photo by BGNES
Bulgaria's controversial businessman and former employee of the State Agency for National Security (DANS), Aleksei Petrov, voiced strong "suspicions" Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, had been involved in a terrorist attack on Petrov's life in 2002.
"I am a responsible and loyal citizen and this is why I have not spoken about this earlier. But now my suspicions are based on evidence," Petrov told reporters before entering the courtroom yet another time Tuesday.
Petrov, was arrested on February 10, 2010, in a much advertised special police operation codenamed "Octopus." On exactly the same date, February 10, 2011, the offices of the anti-government Galeria weekly in downtown Sofia were blown by an unknown perpetrator.
Galeria, which is believed to be Petrov's mouthpiece, recently released a series of discrediting conversations between the Director of the Customs Agency, Vanyo Tanov and other high officials, including Borisov.
Petrov said Tuesday the explosion is a terrorist act and a continuation of the repressions against him, adding the Prime Minister has no right to insinuate his versions about the bombing and redirect public opinion.
"This rule we have now is based on lies and incompetence, but the end is near. I am not a dangerous man, but I have opponents and rivals who are trying to discredit me, setting in motion for a year now, a powerful, Goebbels-like, propaganda machine," the man, known as the "Octopus," pointed out.
Also on Tuesday, the Sofia Court of Appeals is to issue a final rule on the request to change the former DANS employee's house arrest to own recognizance, per the February 7 decision of the lower instance – the Sofia City Court.
Alexei Petrov was released on house arrest in October, 2010.
Several people have gathered in front of the courthouse holding signs "Petrov Is Innocent," and "Freedom for Aleksei."
The PM, who along with Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, is in the western town of Godech, to launch a new factory, refused any comments on Petrov's accusations and told reporters to "mind their business" when asked about it.