site.btaCC-DB's Bozhanov: Draft Decision Is Being Prepared for Full Review of All Illegal Construction Cases

Speaking in Parliament’s lobby on Wednesday, Yes, Bulgaria! party co-chair and Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) MP Bozhidar Bozhanov said that a draft decision is being prepared for a full review of illegal construction cases. “Together with colleagues from CC-DB and DSB [Democrats for Strong Bulgaria], we are preparing a draft decision for a comprehensive review of the Elenite case and all other cases of illegal construction,” he said. 

He added that instances of illegal construction and blocking riverbeds are not isolated and that there is information suggesting that some pre-trial proceedings have been closed.

Yes, Bulgaria! co-chair Ivaylo Mirchev said that the situation along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is the result of “30 years of thugs being ubiquitous“ and accused GERB leader Boyko Borissov of awarding beach concessions. Mirchev said that “to stop the thugs along the Black Sea coast, the major thugs in Bulgarian politics must be stopped,” referring to MRF-New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski and Borissov.

Commenting on an arson case involving trucks owned by a Turkish company contracted for waste management in Sofia, Bozhanov said that the Interior Ministry can and should seek permission from the prosecution service to release details of the investigation. “The entire executive branch is helping the thugs in Sofia,” he said.

Mirchev noted that the State does not provide support in addressing the issue of waste management in Sofia. “Apparently, this is not just a mafia turf war. After taking over waste operations in Burgas and Plovdiv, they are trying to do the same in Sofia, but they will not succeed,” he said. He argued that if the situation had been different, all state institutions would have intervened and the problem would have been solved.

The MP also commented on a Wall Street Journal story that reported that Borissov and Donald Trump Jr. have had a conversation during which the sale of state assets was allegedly offered in exchange for relief from US Magnitsky Act sanctions. Mirchev said it was important that the GERB leader be transparent because “when a Bulgarian politician with enormous influence starts offering assets of the Bulgarian State to help Delyan Peevski“ evade Magnitsky sanctions, that becomes a national issue.