site.btaBOTAS Deal Is Harmful to Bulgarian Citizens, MECh Leader Vasilev Says

Radostin Vasilev, leader of Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh), told journalists in Parliament on Thursday that the agreement with Turkish energy company BOTAS is "a corruption contract, harmful to Bulgarian citizens.” Vasilev commented on the parliamentary hearing dedicated to the contract between Bulgarian natural gas distribution company Bulgargaz and Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS).

"Because of such contracts, Bulgarian citizens remain poor. A government with a two-month mandate concluded a 13-year contract. The capacity under this contract cannot be utilized. There is no termination clause, no possibility of renegotiation," Vasilev said.

Earlier in the day, there was a hearing in Parliament of Rossen Hristov, caretaker energy minister in 2022, Bulgartransgaz Executive Director and former caretaker energy minister Vladimir Malinov, and Bulgargaz former executive director Deniza Slateva, who headed the company when the contract was signed.

“They caused enormous damage to the budget,” Vasilev said. According to him, the prosecution service should look into the case.

MECh leader Vasilev also commented on the ongoing protest of Sofia's ground public transport employees. "For 15 years, during the governance of GERB, problems in public transport have been accumulating," he said. According to Vasilev, Yordanka Fandakova, as the former mayor of Sofia, who is currently a member of parliament from GERB-UDF, should also be asked to comment on the topic.