site.btaDemocratic Bulgaria MPs Talk of Borissov-Peevski Synchronized Attack on Wednesday's Protest

Democratic Bulgaria MPs Ivaylo Mirchev and Bozhidar Bozhanov Thursday talked of "a synchronized attack" by GERB leader Boyko Borissov and MRF-New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski on Wednesday's protest organized by the Justice for All Initiative.

Citizens staged a rally in central Sofia on Wednesday in support of the rule of law, under the slogan "Peevski Out of Power". Delyan Peevski has been sanctioned by the US and UK for corruption.

Mirchev said the attack was on protesters - people who take to the streets when they see injustice. Unfortunately, Vassil Bojkov showed up at the rally, although he was not wanted there. The MP advised Bojkov to tell in a podcast how he had bribed senior politicians in Bulgaria. "Instead of showing up at rallies and posing as a democrat, we would suggest that he explain as soon as possible who got BGN 60 million that he claimed in 2020 he had given to Borissov," the MP said. Mirchev said that since Bojkov claimed that he gave tens of millions to senior Bulgarian politicians and benefited from this, he should explain exactly how he profited, and what his gambling companies got from the Gambling Commission.

The MP said he does not know Bojkov personally and did not see him at the demonstration. "It would be interesting to see what people would do if Peevski showed up at the rally," said Mirchev.

Talking about the formation of the GERB-led coalition government, he said Democratic Bulgaria (DB) went to talks with GERB last December but was not asked for support. Borissov has never asked DB to support the government, the country's entry in the eurozone or anything else, said Mirchev, adding: "We have fought for any steps in support of joining the eurozone."

Bozhidar Bozhanov recalled they were excluded from the government talks as soon as it became clear that measures intended to limit Peevski's influence were unacceptable to the entire majority.

Democratic Bulgaria is in a coalition with Continue the Change in Parliament. 

Once considered to be the wealthiest Bulgarian with assets worth between BGN 1.5 and 3 billion, Bojkov lost his gambling empire in early 2020 when Parliament outlawed private lotteries, and he was charged with evasion of more than BGN 700 million in gambling licensing fees, money laundering, extortion, bribery, murder, abetting in murder, attempted rape, leading an organized crime group since 2014, trading in influence, and unlawful possession of cultural assets. The businessman left the country before the crackdown on him and remained in the United Arab Emirates until August 25, 2023, when he arrived in Sofia. Bojkov was detained at Sofia Airport and remanded in custody over one of the cases against him related to his gambling business.