site.btaHead of Construction Supervision Department of Sofia Municipality Kalinov Resigns over Controversies Concerning Legality of Rooftop Terrace of Counter-corruption Commission Chairman Georgiev

118 POLITICS-POLITIANS-PROPERTIES-RESIGNATION

Head of Construction Supervision Department of Sofia Municipality Kalinov Resigns over Controversies Concerning Legality of Rooftop Terrace of Counter-corruption Commission Chairman Georgiev


June 26 (BTA) - The head of the Construction Supervision Department of the Sofia City Hall, Vladi Kalinov, has resigned, on a demand by Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova, Fandakova herself told reporters on Wednesday.


Kalinov's resignation was demanded in connection with a case concerning the legality of a rooftop terrace of Counter-corruption Commission Chair Plamen Georgiev. It is argued that the Construction Supervision Department blatantly ignored the Spatial Development Act by refusing to order the removal of two illegally built barbecue shelters on that roof.

The administration of Sofia's Slatina borough, where Georgiev's property is located, had said the structures were illegal, but in recent TV appearances Kalinov claimed he can do nothing about it. According to Kalinov, the rooftop shelters cannot be removed because they had been constructed before the building went into use and the violation was not detected on time.

The controversial roof-terrace structures on top of the building where Georgiev lives were inspected back in April, at the height of the "Apartmentgate" scandal in which high-ranking public officials were implicated in malpractices involving real estate, mainly apartment purchases at below-market prices.

Fandakova said that the municopal Construction Supervision Department will conduct a new check of the case. IG/ZH//