site.btaKiril Petkov Charged, Released on Recognizance Not to Leave

Continue the Change Co-Chair Kiril Petkov told the media here on Friday that had been charged and released on recognizance not to leave, he told the media here on Friday, emerging from the Sofia City Prosecution Office, accompanied by his lawyer Daniela Dokovska.

On his way into the prosecution office earlier in the day, Petkov told journalists that he had committed no crime and argued that he was subject to a "political attack".

Prosecutor Angel Kanev, who supervises the case, confirmed the news. He explained that Petkov had been charged with two counts of malfeasance in office while he was prime minister. "In his capacity as public official, he flagrantly exceeded his rights and powers and ordered other officials, who were not empowered to do so, to take investigative steps at variance with the law, during nighttime, without authorization from the court," the prosecutor explained.

He specified that Petkov's lawyer had objected to the precautionary measure imposed on her client and a ruling on this objection will be rendered shortly.

Kanev said further that no other individual had been charged in this pre-trial proceeding. Prosecutors had recovered video tapes and written evidence and had questioned dozens of witnesses, including all police officers who, acting on Petkov's orders, had been involved in the arrest of Boyko Borisov, Sevdalina Arnaudova and Vladislav Goranov.

Asked whether the senior police officials who had received orders from Petkov should be held liable, the prosecutor said that they had testified in the pre-trial proceeding, but it is against a member of the Council of Ministers and not against a police officer. He added that is not aware of any police officers being subject to proceedings at the Sofia City Prosecution Office in connection with this case.

"All witnesses in the case point out that then interior minister Boyko Rashkov did not say a word throughout the hours-long meeting [at which the arrests were ordered], which means that Rashkov did not take any stand, did not break the law in any way because he did not do anything," Kanev explained. He added that the Interior Ministry secretary general was not present at that meeting.

The prosecutor dismissed allegations that his selection to handle this investigation had been manipulated, arguing that he had been selected by a computer system. "I have worked on this case in conformity with the law. Neither the law nor Kiril Petkov have asked for my recusal and said that they have no grounds and arguments to do so. I myself do not feel like a political bludgeon because I am not committed to any political organization whatsoever," Kanev pointed out.

The case records are to be presented to the accused party before the end of January. The prosecutor said that the pre-trial phase of the investigation has been completed, and it has to be submitted to court within a set time limit.