Bulgaria’s prosecution to probe racketeering and fraud claims against PM Boyko Borissov
Bulgaria’s prosecution has launched a probe into claims by local businessman Stanislav Ilchovski that incumbent Prime Minister Boyko Borissov was involved in a gangster-style extortion of money from businessmen.
A few days earlier, Ilchovski testified to a parliament
committee set up to investigate the work of Gerb’s outgoing government and
Borissov’s previous cabinets. Speaking to members of the committee, Ilchovski said
he was repeatedly pressured by people close to Borissov. Associates of the
prime minister forced him to sell his products at lower prices and to back away
from an agricultural land purchase, he claimed. He also said state agency
representatives forced him to pay a racket if he wanted to get water for his
plantations. He did not provide documents proving his accusations but said he
has them and will provide them to the committee.
Chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev’s spokeswoman Siyka Mileva
confirmed to Mediapool news outlet that the prosecution will probe the claims
made by Ilchovski.
It will also look into Ilchovski’s allegation that local
poultry producer Gradus used its influence with the prime minister to present a
false hike in its turnover ahead of IPO. Prosecutors will also investigate the
statements made by Gradus; owner Ivan Angelov. Angelov testified a day after
Ilchovski.
Angelov accused Ilchovski of lying and said he will file a
series of lawsuits against the businessman. In his May 7 statement, he
confirmed his close connections to Borissov, saying they meet in every
two-to-three weeks to play cards and said that the outgoing prime minister
helped his company when it faced problems exporting eggs.
Ilchovski gave more details at a second hearing of the
committee on May 7, saying that in 2017 Angelov invited him on a trip to Monte
Carlo to compile documents indicating Gradus’ turnover was higher than it in
reality was. The company held the biggest IPO in ten years on the Sofia Stock
Exchange in 2018. After Ilchovski’s revelations, its share price started
declining.
Ilchovski also said that he was asked by Angelov to help for
fake higher turnover for his company on behalf of Borissov and claimed he has
photos and other proof.
In his most shocking claim, Ilchovski said on May 5 he
attended a gathering alongside Borissov and several businessmen at which he was
shown a video of a sexual assault on the owner of Vinprom Karnobat, Minyo
Staikov, who was detained in mid-2019 over alleged misuse of EU funds.
“It was projected at a hunting residence of [communist-era
dictator] Todor Zhivkov, Vitoshko-Studena. Many people attended [the meeting],”
Ilchovski said during the May 5 session live broadcasted by the committee’s
chair, Maya Manolova, on Facebook.
On May 7, Ilchovski slightly changed his testimony, saying
the video was projected by Borissov’s friend before the arrival of the prime
minister.
Angelov claimed that 95% of Ilchovski’s statements were
lies. Concerning Ilchovski’s claim associates of the prime minister forced him
to sell his products at lower prices, Angelov said he has grain purchase
contracts that would prove he bought grain from Ilchovski at a higher price
compared to other producers. He said the claims by the businessman harm the prestige
of Gradus and its investors, Dnevnik news outlet reported.
He denied using Borissov’s name in his business relations,
but said that the prime minister helped him when he had issues with exports due
to veterinary regulations or border delays.
Angelov also denied paying BGN5,000 (€2,500) to a female
companion for sexual services to Borissov. Ilchovski has said this companion,
provided to the prime minister as a gift from Angelov, took photos that went
public last summer, showing Borissov sleeping in his bedroom next to a Glock
9mm handgun and a drawer full of €500 bills and gold bars. At the time,
Borissov confirmed their authenticity, saying they were taken in the residence
he is using as premier.
Angelov said he did not pay the female companion, claiming
that Borissov can afford to pay himself for a “much prettier and more
expensive” one.
The two hearings were attended by Gerb’s MPs who attempted
to prevent Ilchovski from testifying. On May 5, the session was interrupted,
but on May 7 the had of the committee said the session would last as long as
needed for Ilchovski to be allowed to speak. Meanwhile, the businessman was
assigned protection from the National Security Service by the parliament.
Hristo Ivanov, one of the leaders of the reformist
Democratic Bulgaria, commented the behaviour of Gerb’s MPs, saying they should
choose between their political survival as a party by distancing themselves
from Borissov, or their role as his “mafia family”.
“Gerb is at a crossroad and has to choose between behaving
as Borssov’s personal shield, or for these people to start thinking of
continuing their political life, but this means without Borissov. Because the
presence of Borissov there makes them completely toxic and dooms them to the
role of a mafia family,” Ivanov told public broadcaster BNR on May 9.
He added that most likely other businessmen will also start
talking and revealing corruption schemes after Ilchovski.
Manolova also commented on the behaviour of Gerb’s MPs
during the two hearings, saying they “show their fear of the truth”.
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