site.btaContinue the Change Says Waste Crisis, Extortion of Sofia Residents Will End

The waste crisis will be overcome and the dirty extortion of Sofia residents will end, Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) Co-chair Assen Vassilev said in Parliament's corridors on Thursday. He added that they would also deal with the extortionists.

"Didn't Mr. [GERB leader Boyko] Borissov says yesterday [Wednesday] that he would help, and today the prosecution service started helping by summoning the people organizing the cleaning in order to waste their time,” Vassilev said in reference to the questioning of Sofia Deputy Mayor Nadezhda Bobcheva and the director of the waste treatment plant Nikolay Savov. “We see that the rhythmic gymnastics duo have moved on to a routine with clubs,” the deputy added, referring to how institutions, such as the prosecution service, are allegedly often times used as clubs to inflict blows on political opponents.  Vassilev called the prosecution’s actions an “absolute scandal.”

Currently, there is a mechanism by which the State can conduct screening and check every foreign investor when it comes to a strategic facility. What is being done now is to allow [MRF - New Beginning Floor leader Delyan] Peevski to hold this control solely through the State Agency for National Security (SANS), Vassilev commented on proposed amendments to the Investment Promotion Act, related to the sale of assets of Lukoil oil refinery. The current screening mechanism does not suit them to because, when it concerns a strategic facility of European importance, this matter also goes to Brussels. This law bypasses Brussels and this check, Vassilev said.

Peevski’s appetites for Lukoil Neftochim Burgas have been ongoing for years, said CC-DB Co-Floor leader Nikolay Denkov. According to him, Peevski aims to have control over an asset on which the entire State depends. If the work of Neftochim stops or if there is sole control, fuel prices could rise – this has happened in the past – and any government could fall, Denkov added.