site.btaInterior Minister Implicates GERB Leader Borissov in Crash Barriers Scam, GERB Threatens to Sue

Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev stated on Tuesday that two companies supplying crash barriers in Bulgaria appear to be linked to GERB leader Boyko Borissov. He was referring to a recent statement by Prime Minister Radev, who cited a public procurement contract for the purchase of crash barriers for EUR 500 million.

Demerdzhiev said there was evidence that crash barrier supply prices in Bulgaria were way above the market levels and that sustained efforts had been made over a long period to keep the two companies' competitors out of public procurement procedures. "The link between the two companies and Borissov is indirect but clearly visible," Demerdzhiev said, adding that this link could be traced through the companies' rankings in various public procurement procedures at different times.

For their part, GERB threatened to sue  the Interior Minister over his allegations. "Demerdzhiev, while he was a lawyer of dubious reputation, could say whatever he wanted. From the point he is Minister of Interior, he must speak citing facts and evidence, not conjectures," said Toma Bikov MP of GERB-UDF, speaking to journalists in Parliament.

Another GERB-UDF lawmaker, Nikolay Nankov, said that the most recent contracts concluded with the companies referred to by Demerdzhiev were signed by incumbent Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Shishkov under the Galab Donev Government (2022-2023). According to Nankov, it was under these contracts that the largest payments of over BGN 173 million (EUR 86 million) were made under an in-house procedure for the procurement of crash barriers through the state-owned company Avtomagistrali while Shishkov was minister.

Earlier in June, Demerdzhiev linked the crash barriers issue to road safety. In a June 28 interview, he said Bulgaria would compare crash barrier prices and technology with those in Germany and neighbouring countries, after raising concerns that only two companies supply such barriers in Bulgaria.