site.btaBoyko Rashkov Claims Petyo Petrov Was Linked to Borissov Government in Selection of European Prosecutor Teodora Georgieva

“There is absolutely no doubt for us about the connection between Petyo Petrov and the government of Boyko Borissov in the appointment of Bulgarian European Prosecutor Teodora Georgieva ,” MP Boyko Rashkov of Continue the Change said during a briefing in Parliament.

Petyo Petrov, a privately practising lawyer, headed the Investigation Department of the Sofia City Prosecution Office in 2013-2015 and is alleged to have played a key role in various corruption schemes. He is a key figure in the Eight Dwarfs scandal (called so after Petrov's restaurant of the same name) about influence peddling and theft of companies in the judiciary and was charged in the case together with his ex-wife Lyubena Petrova and prosecutor Dilyan Deyanov.

MP Velislav Velichkov of Continue the Change said recent statements by the Justice Minister and the Prime Minister gave “optimistic signals” about reform in the judicial system, but argued that replacing one acting prosecutor general with another would not be enough to eliminate dependencies within the system.

Velichkov said acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov should completely withdraw from the judiciary to allow a proper vetting process to begin. He added that if Sarafov did not step down, his party would support a renewed request for disciplinary proceedings against him, as well as against Sofia City Prosecutor Emilia Rusinova.

According to Velichkov, Rusinova should also leave her position because she could obstruct the collection of evidence in the disciplinary proceedings against her.

He further said the so-called “little sofa”, which he described as a symbol of influence and dependence in the judiciary over the past decade, should be investigated by a special parliamentary commission examining influence-peddling and hidden ties within the higher levels of the judicial system.

Rashkov said Parliament should work to clarify the matter because no other institution was capable of doing so.

MP Miroslav Ivanov called for support from the governing coalition for the creation of such a commission.

Commenting on the court ruling involving Petrov, Velichkov described the decision as “strange and absurd”, arguing that the court had apparently removed the fraud element from the indictment and retained only the document-related offence.

Asked whether former caretaker interior minister Emil Dechev was linked to the case surrounding Teodora Georgieva, Velichkov denied any connection.