site.btaCC-DB Calls for Committee of Inquiry into Alleged Police Protection of Drug Traffickers

Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria MP Ivaylo Mirchev stated that the parliamentary group would demand a hearing of Interior Minister Daniel Mitov on the establishment of a committee of inquiry into alleged widespread practice of police officers protecting drug traffickers from being charged with crimes. Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Thursday, CC-DB MPs and members of the BOEC civic movement said that they had evidence of violations at the Interior Ministry's Regional Directorate in Dobrich, Northeast Bulgaria. According to Mirchev, members of the MRF - New Beginning parliamentary group are involved in the violations.

CC-DB MP Boyko Rashkov said that Petar Rusev, a police officer from Dobrich, was subjected to disciplinary proceedings and subsequently dismissed from his job while performing his routine duties. According to materials provided by BOEC, Rusev had participated in an inspection of an establishment in Albena resort owned by the father of an MRF - New Beginning MP, where a notebook containing information about criminal activity was found. Rashkov added that BOEC has information about another case involving the discovery of approximately 80 packets of narcotics in the car of another MP from the same parliamentary group. 

According to BOEC Chair Georgi Georgiev, the notebook in question had National Assembly branding and contained data of the Albena establishment’s "slush fund". He added that no search or seizure had been carried out in relation to the drugs found in the MP's car. Georgiev also claimed that current MRF - New Beginning MP and former interior minister Kalin Stoyanov (June 2023 - August 2024) is alleged to be at the top of a drug trafficking organization.

During the briefing, Rusev stated that he had submitted a report to Daniel Mitov claiming that he had been subjected to repression. The former police officer claims that he has not received a response to the report.