site.btaMRF - New Beginning Floor Leader Peevski Says There Is Extensive Corruption in Judiciary

Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - New Beginning Floor Leader Delyan Peevski said Friday that there is extensive corruption in the judiciary. "All dependencies in the judiciary must come to light. There must be revelations who is connected to whom in the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO)" he added. 

Peevski argued that the European Public Prosecutor's Office worked closely with Continue the Change Co-Chair Kiril Petkov and asked why Petkov was a frequent guest in the office of European Prosecutor Teodora Georgieva who has been linked with notorious judiciary fixer Petyo "Evroto" Petrov.

On Thursday, Georgieva aledged that Peevski had pressured the contractors on the expansion of the Chiren gas storage facility, which was investigated by the EPPO. She added that she felt threatened by him. Later in the day, the MRF - New Beginning Floor Leader said he had nothing to do with this case and that he will appeal before the prosecution service against the allegations.

In 2021, Peevski was designated by the US under the Global Magnitsky Act as an oligarch who "has regularly engaged in corruption, using influence peddling and bribes to protect himself from public scrutiny and exert control over key institutions and sectors in Bulgarian society". Peevski is challenging the designation in a US court. His lawyers argue that there is no evidence of any wrongdoing by their client. In 2023, the UK sanctioned Peevski for his involvement "in attempts to exert control over key institutions and sectors in Bulgarian society through bribery and use of his media empire".

Commenting on his support for the current Government, Peevski said he has already shown it and he will continue to show it if the Cabinet delivers on the things set out in the state budget, "because people expect it". Asked whether there is tension between him and GERB-UDF Floor Leader Boyko Borissov he said there is none: "We have not gathered with him to love each other or not to love each other, but to work for the people," Peevski added. "If he works for the people, I will support GERB's Cabinet," he stressed.