It is strange how exactly after the elections in the “Iskar“ district this series of events is happening, Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev commented to journalists after the searches in the Sofia Municipality, the police escorting Deputy Mayor Nikola Barbutov from the Sofia Municipality building, as well as the departure of two district mayors and two municipal councilors from “We continue the change”.
Earlier today, officers of the Anti-Corruption Commission carried out searches in the Sofia Municipality, the Commission for Counteracting Corruption announced. They informed that their actions were a result of the data announced yesterday about pressure being exerted on the mayors of the Sofia districts “Mladost“ and “Lyulin“ and two municipal councilors in the Sofia Municipality. council.
I cannot comment on something I have no information about, said Vasil Terziev and added that he is learning about the case from the media.
He assured that he was not warned and did not have a conversation with the municipal councilors and district mayors who left the PP.
„I cannot share anything, because there are procedural actions. The commission did not share anything, because they do not have the right, I have no connection with Mr. Barbutov“, said the mayor of the capital, quoted by BTA.
He emphasized that there are investigative actions, then an indictment, then a court ruling and this is the way in which a person is judged whether he is guilty or innocent.
I am neither a court, nor a prosecutor's office, nor am I the vicegerent of God to make such judgments, Terziev said and stressed that it is important for him that the institutions work and expressed hope that they will do their job.
Terziev recalled that yesterday he ordered an internal audit of public procurement in “Lyulin“ and “Mladost“ and will also order an inspection in the direction of Nikola Barbutov.
“For me, the fight is about how public funds are spent, that everything is transparent and calm, and this will continue until the end of the mandate“, said the mayor.
He said that if he had doubts about Barbutov, he would hardly have kept him in the post of deputy mayor.
“If I had doubts and data, I would have reported it to the relevant institutions, because when we know something, we report it to the competent authorities“, said Terziev.
The Sofia mayor said that he did not directs the events and is focused on how the municipality works.
„Our big challenge is to have a budget. There are many processes in the state that are happening outside this municipality at a much higher level, I cannot comment on something that I am not a part of“, he said.
Terziev announced that he had spoken with the leaders of the PP Kiril Petkov and Asen Vassilev yesterday.
„I had a conversation with them and they told me what they know and don't know, as well as that they will convene an Executive Council of the party, that's where our conversation ended“, the mayor of the capital indicated.