site.btaKiril Petkov: Friday’s Attack Aims to Derail Regular Government, Block Schengen Entry

"Apparently, the opportunity to form a regular government to reform the [special] services and to bring Bulgaria into Schengen is the main reason for today's attack,” Continue the Change (CC) co-leader Kiril Petkov said on Friday in the National Assembly.

On Friday, MP Radostin Vasilev made public a recording which he claims was made at an online meeting of CC's National Council on May 21. The voices in the recording resemble those of CC co-leaders Kiril Petkov and Assen Vassilev.

"We are observing how since today’s morning there is coordination of the pro-Russian forces in Bulgaria, including Vazrazhdane, and then after the press conference - BSP", Petkov stated. “No one can influence our strong desire to reform the services and form a regular government that will free the leadership of the Bulgarian services from long-standing dependencies", the politician declared.

“The national security is a Bulgarian responsibility, no other country can influence what choices we will make in future reforms,” Petkov underlined. CC’s co-leader added that the Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria coalition will insist that any candidate that it will propose for future appointments in the services must have a clean past, no criminal record in Bulgaria or Europe, and no history as an agent of an enemy state or state security. Petkov has categorically denied having so far coordinated with other embassies the proposals for the services, as alleged in the recording presented to the media by MP Radostin Vassilev. In the final appointments and as part of the legal procedures, the coalition will inform partner services within the framework of the country's obligations as a member of the EU and NATO, he pointed out.

On the credibility of Vassilev’s recordings, Petkov explained that the meetings of the party’s National Council have not been recorded so far, so he needs to hear the full recordings to see if there is any manipulation. “At this point I cannot confirm [if there is any],” he clarified.

Petkov also commented on the announcement that the State Agency for National Security (SANS) Director had provided security for a regular MP on Thursday evening, noting that SANS does not protect individuals because it does not have such powers, as it can only protect strategic sites. “Does the president know about these midnight talks between the head of SANS and this MP?” Petkov asked.