Former Interior Minister and current MP from PP-DB Boyko Rashkov was a special guest on “Darik's Week“ and commented on the arbitrariness in the justice system in Bulgaria. The main topic was the detention of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev, who remains in custody despite the violent protests in his support and the loud criticism from experts, claiming that the evidentiary materials are not enough and until Kotsev's possible guilt is proven, he should be free.
He also emphasized the curious case with another suspicion of corruption activity, again directed at a PP-DB MP. Bogomil Petkov said a few days ago that he received a call from the Anti-Corruption Commission. He claims that he had to give explanations after an anonymous tip that he had requested a bribe of 50 thousand leva in his capacity as mayor of the capital's "Vitosha" district. However, Bogomil Petkov has never been mayor of the Vitosha district.
„I am convinced that this is not a mistake. This is a line of conduct that has been given to the Anti-Corruption Commission to exert unacceptable pressure by abusing the powers of this commission on members or close associates of the political party "We continue the change". This is the basis of this call, as well as other previous actions under the guise of an investigation.“
„The Commission has been placed under the authority and influence of two political parties, of two "leaders" in our country and I put leaders in quotation marks because they behave and lead political parties in contradiction to the laws of the country, that is, in contradiction to the interests of Bulgarian society.“
„After they threw away the clubs in the literal sense of the word, through which they threatened hundreds of people and exercised extortion and coercion on them, seizing positions of power in our country, now they are using other clubs in the face of the Anti-Corruption Commission, in the face of the National Revenue Agency, financial control bodies, police bodies and, of course, at the top of this pyramid I listed is the prosecutor's office, led by people like Ivan Geshev and Borislav Sarafov.“
„They have now taken out a part of the Anti-Corruption Commission, as it was called before the CPC, and moved them to the Court of Audit. Do I need to give specific examples with specific names? I am currently trying to remember the name of a lady, a member of this commission, who is currently a member of the Court of Auditors. It is Silvia, but the name has escaped my mind at the moment. They were elected when GERB was in power and there has been no change in the composition of the regulators since GERB has been in power until now.“
„Why does Borisov want the Prosecutor General to appoint him so much? Because that's how he feels safe. Even if he builds a house in Barcelona in the context of an international money laundering scheme, as the Spanish prosecutor's office and police claim, even if he builds another similar house in Istanbul, under the same scheme and in other places, he is calm that he will not be held accountable for any responsibility“, he claims.
Asked about the role of the PP-DB in granting the CPC more functions, which are now being used against members of the party, he shared:
“Let us distinguish between the idea of creating a specialized body to combat corruption in our country, which, it seems to me, has undoubtedly conquered very wide areas in the administration and the composition of this commission, which was sent by the previous and current rulers. With such rulers who have chosen heads of the Anti-Corruption Commission of the order I mentioned a moment ago, Bulgaria cannot expect lawful actions.“
When asked whether a new mayor will be elected in Varna, he replied:
„This is already a matter for the local authorities and they will decide this issue. As far as I am informed, such processes are underway. Moreover, in the Criminal Procedure Code there is also a possibility for the mayor to be removed from office. There is such an additional procedural measure of coercion that can be imposed upon request by the prosecutor's office and in the rulings of such courts that are being selected.“
„I am absolutely convinced that the initial goal was to replace Blagomir Kotsev. Do you remember that journalists filmed, whether unintentionally or on purpose, a note that was given to Borisov. This note was held by Borisov in such a way that it could be read?
„This note was roughly worded as to whether things have started or things are ending. That is, Borisov is reported to by the prosecutor's office, respectively the Anti-Corruption Commission, whether the search of the Varna mayor's home has begun, whether it has been completed, what has been discovered, whether something has been discovered, whether it has not been discovered.“
That is, Borisov continues to command the parade, the actions of the prosecutor's office and the actions of the Anti-Corruption Commission, which has had investigative functions for several years. So he is aware in the same way that he was aware of who the former Chief Prosecutor Tsatsarov intends to detain, to indict, to accuse. Tsatsarov, on the other hand, went to the Council of Ministers every week, for what? Obviously, to inform Borisov about whom one or another action is being taken.“