site.btaFour Government Services Investigate Pernik Water Crisis and Waste Disposal Scandal, Environment Minister Questioned in Probe

Pernik/Sofia, January 9 (BTA) - It transpired Thursday that four
 government services have started probing a water shortage that
has led to draconian water rationing in the western town of
Pernik, as well as a scandal over the storage and disposal of
huge amount of imported waste across the country. Prosecutor
General Ivan Geshev told a news briefing in Pernik that action
is being taken to investigate any criminal wrongdoing in these
matters.

The Pernik water crisis probe is under the supervision of the
Specialized Prosecution Office, and is being handled jointly by
the anti-corruption commission, the State Agency for National
Security (SANS) and the Interior Ministry. In addition to
investigative actions, questioning of witnesses, and searches in
 Pernik, the Specialized Prosecutor's Office is also conducting
searches at the Ministry of Environment and Waters building, as
well as at the offices of the Pernik regional government and the
 local water company, the Prosecutor General said.

He added that SANS and the Interior Ministry are conducting a
probe at the Environment Ministry concerning permits it has
issued for waste import, mainly from Italy. Geshev added that
more than 30 people are to be questioned, including
Environmental Minister Neno Dimov.

TV reports already showed Dimov taken for questioning at the
National Investigative Office.

For the first time on Thursday, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov
hinted at Dimov's possible replacement. Emerging from a meeting
of an advisory council on national security with the President,
he said that he is going to discuss the Environment Minister's
resignation with GERB's coalition partners.

Geshev said at the news briefing that the Prosecution Office is
aware that the lack of water is a serious problem for the
citizens of Pernik. "We cannot solve the problem, we cannot turn
 on the water, but we can commit ourselves to seeking criminal
liability for any culpable officials," said he.

Geshev, together with anti-corruption commission chair Sotir
Tsatsarov, had a meeting with Pernik Mayor Stanislav Vladimirov
and  informed him that pre-trial proceedings have been initiated
 and significant results are to be expected.

Media reports said that former Pernik Regional Governor Irena
Sokolova and the former CEO of the local water company were
arrested earlier on Thursday. The competent services have
declined to confirm the reports. RI/DT