Bulgaria PM Snubs Media over Businessman Mysterious Death

Society | March 30, 2011, Wednesday // 15:11
Bulgaria: Bulgaria PM Snubs Media over Businessman Mysterious Death "Why are you asking? What am I supposed to do?," Boyko Borisov said shortly after the news that the owner of the "Ledenika" beer company, Mihail Mihov, has been found dead at a hotel in the town of Pravets near Sofia. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Bulgaria's prime minister has shrugged off nervously reporters' questions when approached to comment the mysterious death of a local beer company owner, for whom he is believed to have lobbied.

"Why are you asking? What am I supposed to do?," Boyko Borisov said shortly after the news that the owner of the "Ledenika" beer company, Mihail Mihov, has been found dead at a hotel in the town of Pravets near Sofia.

Borisov added he is not related to the case in any way and has no intention to make statements.

Mihail Mihov, aka Misho Birata (Misho the Beer) made headlines following a scandalous leaked wiretap, released in the middle of January by the Galeria weekly.

The conversation was between Customs Agency head Vanyo Tanov and Finance Minister Simeon Djankov. It tackled issues, related to the activities and license of the Ledenika brewery and its owner.

The recordings, whose authenticity is yet to be proven, allege Borisov provided a cover-up for the owner of the "Ledenika" beer company, Mihail Mihov. They made clear that President Parvanov made a promise to Mihov, which he did not keep.

The tapes reveal that Borisov had called Tanov with an order to immediately pull the tax agents out of the factory and that the "Ledenika" boss personally complained to the PM.

The tape was the fourth one released by Galeria weekly, a paper believed to be the mouthpiece of Aleksei Petrov, former special agent of the State National Security Agency DANS, (currently under house arrest), who has been investigated on organized crime charges since his detention in the much advertised "Operation Octopus" in February 2010.

Borisov himself has not shied away from admitting that he is regularly wiretapping members of the government and heads of authorities, drawing criticism that he blatantly abuses his office and breaks the laws.

Under local legislation, adopted after the collapse of the communist regime, wiretapping is allowed only "for the prevention and investigation of serious crime as defined by the criminal code when evidence cannot be gathered in any other way".

Detailed information about Mihail Mihov READ HERE

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Tags: Galeria, Aleksei Petrov, Bulgaria, Boyko, Boyko Borisov, Simeon Djankov, finance minister, Customs Agency, Vanyo Tanov, Borisov, Mihail Mihov, Parvanov, Georgi Parvanov, president, Prime Minister, Georgi, Bulgarian Basketball Federation, Georgi Parvanov, Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, Tapegate, Ledenika, Mihail Mihov, Misho Birata, Customs Agency head, Vanyo Tanov, finance minister, Simeon Djankov

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