site.btaHead of Counter-Corruption Commission Tsatsarov Resigns

Sofia, January 17 (BTA) - Sotir Tsatsarov resigned as Chairman of the Counter-Corruption and Unlawfully Acquired Assets Forfeiture Commission (CCUAAFC) on Monday morning, the commission told BTA. He submitted his resignation to the National Assembly.

On January 13, Tsatsarov announced his plans to step down from this position, adding that he would do so before the relevant parliamentary committee and would ask to vacate the position on March 1.

On January 14, his access to classified information was revoked. Tsatsarov stated that

this was due to continuous institutional pressure exerted on the CCUAAFC management by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov.

The reasons for Tsatsarov's revoked access are stated to be, "the person breached the law, or the regulations related to the law's implementation, which created the risk of jeopardizing state interests or significantly harmed interests of the state, organizations, or persons/entities working in the field of classified information."

Tsatsarov said he would appeal against the revocation of his access to classified information.

Later in the day, the Counter-Corruption Commission said that Tsatsarov had asked the prosecution service to launch a probe into his actions. He has referred the matter to Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev.

Among other things, Tsatsarov has asked Geshev to look into Prime Minister Kiril Petkov's statement that "the disclosure of classified information by Tsatsarov has had consequences and the case will probably be referred to the prosecution service". RY,PP/KK/NZ,DD