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A controversy has arisen in Bulgaria after one of the country's top ski resorts Pamporovo – owned by Tsvetelina Borislavova, a businesswoman and ex girlfriend of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov – granted free lift passes to Borisov and his Cabinet.
The issue surfaced to the public several days ago when Pamporovo PLC CEO Mariyan Belyakov issued an order to provide free lift passes for the Bulgarian PM, Council of Ministers, MPs and their families, and the order was leaked in the Bulgarian press.
Tsvetelina Borislavova, a businesswoman and a banker often styled one of Bulgaria's wealthiest oligarchs, has been well-known for being the long-time girlfriend of Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov, with whom she used to live out of wedlock.
Borisov himself claims that he and Borislavova separated 5 years ago but unconfirmed reports suggest they are still a couple.
"I'm not against issuing free lift passes for the Bulgarian government," Tsvetelina Borislavova, the majority shareholder of Pamporovo PLC, stated on Friday, adding that technically she was not involved in the issuing of the passes as the order was signed by Belyakov.
Belyakov's order states that the free lift passes are issued with Borislavova's consent or the consent of the procurist of her CSFI investment fund Diyan Stanchev. The passes are nominal, terminal and bear the mark "Government".
"I don't oppose his actions, and would definitely not punish him (Belyakov) for them", Borislavova explained.
"My signature is not on the documents. I've never told anyone "Give the government free passes". There is no such thing.", she added.
In Borislavova's words only a selective part of the Pamporovo PLC's CEO Belyakov's order has been published in the Bulgarian press.
The order granting free ski lift passes to the Bulgarian Cabinet and MPs is much longer, with "much more serious contents" and covers every single case, in which individuals may receive lift passes outside the normal purchase procedure, the Pamporovo PLC majority shareholder stated.
"In every resort, not only in Pamporovo, there are certain events of public importance such as international contests or meetings", Borislavova said.
"The order covers all of these cases and refers also to the government agents, but only when they are on official duties", she pointed out.
Borislavova also said that she regrets the fact that someone is always looking to create controversy and tension.
"My name very often bears a negative meaning, and in 95% of the cases the information is far removed from the truth", the Pamporovo PLC majority shareholder stated.
Pamporovo PLC, formerly a state firm now owned by Borislavova, is the company that operates the infrastructure of the Bulgarian winter resort of Pamporovo, famously known as one of the venues for the Europa Ski Cup since the 1980s.
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