site.btaPrime Minister Petkov Advises Bulgarians to Leave Ukraine
ESD 19:55:32 14-02-2022
PP1951ES.124
124 POLITICS-PRIME MINISTER-UKRAINE-BULGARIANS
Prime Minister Petkov
Advises
Bulgarians to Leave Ukraine
Sofia, February 14 (BTA) - In a televised interview on Monday Prime Minister Kiril Petkov advised Bulgarians who have no urgent business to leave Ukraine. He added that Bulgarian military planes will be sent if necessary,
Petkov said that stopping gas supplies from Russia will be the worst scenario and a heavy blow to Bulgaria because the bulk comes from Russia. The Prime Minister said that there are ways to sustain Bulgaria's energy system if this happens. He said that talks are already underway with the European Commission. In case of a Russian invasion, Bulgaria will halt partlally electriicty exports so that there is enough electricity for Bulgarian households.
Petkov said that ways to import liquefued natural gas from the US through Nea Mesimvria are explored. The Kozloduy N-plant is stocked with fuel for two years, said the Prime Minister.
Once again Petkov urged Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev to resign.
The Prime Minister said that a list is being made of Bulgarians abroad who have background in anti-corruption, interior affairs and the special services and who the government will try to recruit to avoid any deoendencies.
He said that he doesn't trust Posecutor General Geshev because of his ties with the people on the list which the Prime Minister gave the prosecution last week. "He had contacts with these people and he went out to clubs with them," said Petkov.
Barcelonagate
The Prime Minister also commented a Spanish investigation into possible money laundering, involving Bulgarian business owners and politicians. The case is widely referred to in Bulgaria as "Barcelonagate". It recently transpired that the Spanish law-enforcers have sent a report with the investigation findings to the Bulgarian Interior Ministry. "No names were mentioned in the report, which I saw, but there were photos of [GERB leader and former Prime Minister] Boyko Borissov. He is not directly incriminated but he is in the report and high-ranking people are involved in this case," said Petkov. He was adamant that the Spanish investigators don't seek to stir up a diplomatic scandal but are merely forwarding information to the Bulgarian posecution service and expects it to do its job.
The Spanish investigation looked into the purchase of an upscale property and designer clothing store, both of which were used by a Bulgarian model who run the shop and lived in the house with her daughter. The money for the properties originated from companies that had no obvious business and the origin of their money was suspicious. An 2020 article in the Spanish El Periodico alleged a connection with Boyko Borissov. He has consistently denied having anything to do with the case, as well as allegations that he was involved with the woman, was the likely father of her daughter and had put them up in Barcelona.
Petkov said on bTV that the money for the Barcelona house came from Bulgaria, through Bulgarian politicians, and were generated by money laundering. Now that the report is here, the prosecution service should start working on the case, said he.
The prosecution service has long started work on the matter but said repreatedly they were waiting for materials from abroad.
Borissov: "Declassify the report"
At a news briefing following the Prime Minister's appearance on bTV, Boyko Borissov reiterated that "he has never had and will not have a house or another property in Barcelona". He said taking out the report now was a If-you-can't-give-them-bread-give-them-a-cicrcus strategy of the present power-holders to divert attention from the government's failures in health care, public finances and the energy sector.
He urged the authorities to declassify the Spanish report on Barcelonagate to put an end to the allegations about his involvement.
He thanked the Prime Minister for admitting that there was nothing more in the report about him than a photo. RY/PP/LN/
//
PP1951ES.124
124 POLITICS-PRIME MINISTER-UKRAINE-BULGARIANS
Prime Minister Petkov
Advises
Bulgarians to Leave Ukraine
Sofia, February 14 (BTA) - In a televised interview on Monday Prime Minister Kiril Petkov advised Bulgarians who have no urgent business to leave Ukraine. He added that Bulgarian military planes will be sent if necessary,
Petkov said that stopping gas supplies from Russia will be the worst scenario and a heavy blow to Bulgaria because the bulk comes from Russia. The Prime Minister said that there are ways to sustain Bulgaria's energy system if this happens. He said that talks are already underway with the European Commission. In case of a Russian invasion, Bulgaria will halt partlally electriicty exports so that there is enough electricity for Bulgarian households.
Petkov said that ways to import liquefued natural gas from the US through Nea Mesimvria are explored. The Kozloduy N-plant is stocked with fuel for two years, said the Prime Minister.
Once again Petkov urged Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev to resign.
The Prime Minister said that a list is being made of Bulgarians abroad who have background in anti-corruption, interior affairs and the special services and who the government will try to recruit to avoid any deoendencies.
He said that he doesn't trust Posecutor General Geshev because of his ties with the people on the list which the Prime Minister gave the prosecution last week. "He had contacts with these people and he went out to clubs with them," said Petkov.
Barcelonagate
The Prime Minister also commented a Spanish investigation into possible money laundering, involving Bulgarian business owners and politicians. The case is widely referred to in Bulgaria as "Barcelonagate". It recently transpired that the Spanish law-enforcers have sent a report with the investigation findings to the Bulgarian Interior Ministry. "No names were mentioned in the report, which I saw, but there were photos of [GERB leader and former Prime Minister] Boyko Borissov. He is not directly incriminated but he is in the report and high-ranking people are involved in this case," said Petkov. He was adamant that the Spanish investigators don't seek to stir up a diplomatic scandal but are merely forwarding information to the Bulgarian posecution service and expects it to do its job.
The Spanish investigation looked into the purchase of an upscale property and designer clothing store, both of which were used by a Bulgarian model who run the shop and lived in the house with her daughter. The money for the properties originated from companies that had no obvious business and the origin of their money was suspicious. An 2020 article in the Spanish El Periodico alleged a connection with Boyko Borissov. He has consistently denied having anything to do with the case, as well as allegations that he was involved with the woman, was the likely father of her daughter and had put them up in Barcelona.
Petkov said on bTV that the money for the Barcelona house came from Bulgaria, through Bulgarian politicians, and were generated by money laundering. Now that the report is here, the prosecution service should start working on the case, said he.
The prosecution service has long started work on the matter but said repreatedly they were waiting for materials from abroad.
Borissov: "Declassify the report"
At a news briefing following the Prime Minister's appearance on bTV, Boyko Borissov reiterated that "he has never had and will not have a house or another property in Barcelona". He said taking out the report now was a If-you-can't-give-them-bread-give-them-a-cicrcus strategy of the present power-holders to divert attention from the government's failures in health care, public finances and the energy sector.
He urged the authorities to declassify the Spanish report on Barcelonagate to put an end to the allegations about his involvement.
He thanked the Prime Minister for admitting that there was nothing more in the report about him than a photo. RY/PP/LN/
//
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