site.btaMRF-New Beginning Leader Reports Caretaker Interior Minister Dechev to Prosecution over Alleged Interference in Interior Ministry

Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski has reported caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev to the Prosecution Office over alleged interference in the work of the professional staff of the Interior Ministry, the political party said on Facebook on Thursday.

Peevski has notified the Sofia City Prosecution Office about statements made by Dechev in a podcast that the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC) should question Peevski "over a report submitted by Teodora Georgieva, who was removed by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office for serious violations".

"The threat that I will be 'questioned by GDCOC' means that either the caretaker minister, who is a magistrate, does not know the legal framework under which he works in connection with his official duties as Interior Minister, or he is serving the election campaign of the parties he is associated with by exerting pressure against their political opponents," Peevski said.

He added that the Constitution and the law clearly prohibit a political figure such as the caretaker minister from interfering in the work of the professional staff of the Interior Ministry, and that such interference is unacceptable.

Peevski also said that any other interests or connections between Emil Dechev, Teodora Georgieva and Andrey Yankulov, caretaker justice minister in the Gurov cabinet, should be established by the Sofia City Prosecution Office and, if confirmed, appropriate lawful actions should be taken.