Ex Bulgarian Top Cop Launches New Counterattack

Crime | November 22, 2010, Monday // 11:31
Ex Bulgarian Top Cop Launches New Counterattack: Ex Bulgarian Top Cop Launches New Counterattack Bulgaria's former Interior Minister from the previous, Socialist-led cabinet, Rumen Petkov. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's Customs Agency Director, Vanyo Tanov, and his family were investigated in March by the Interior Ministry, former Interior Minister from the previous, Socialist-led cabinet, Rumen Petkov, alleges.

In a Monday interview for the Bulgarian National Television (BNT), Petkov sad he had information about such probe and it showed that Tanov has lost the trust of those who appointed him at the post.

The ex Minister further requested an investigation to establish if all measures he ordered against Bulgaria's notorious alleged crime bosses known as the Galevi Brothers have been carried out – tracking them out, taping their phones, monitoring etc, saying if this was not done, it was Tanov, who provided cover-up for them in his capacity as Head of the Unit for Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP) at the time.

Regarding accusations coming from Tanov and now Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov that Petkov took part in a meeting with Galevi to discuss the redistribution of the illegal drugs market in the country, the ex Minister explained the meeting, which had nothing to do with illegal drugs, was arranged under the proposal of a subordinate, who had been present and later wrote a report about the talks. Petkov, however, declined offering a name, adding he was considering a defamation suit against the Customs Agency Director.

The former Minister also declared his successor Tsvetanov must be dismissed from throwing groundless accusations and over conflict of interests.

The scandal flared Friday, after Tanov said in a TV interview Petkov and Galevi met to discuss the drug market, which Tsvetanov confirmed later.

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Tags: illegal drugs market, Vanyo Tanov, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Zlatko Baretata, Dupnitsa, Galevi brothers, Rumen Petkov, GERB, Bulgarian Socialist Party

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