Kiril Petkov Charged in Connection with Boyko Borisov Arrest
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Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov has revealed that he has been charged in relation to the arrest of GERB leader Boyko Borisov. He made this proclamation during a parliamentary briefing, stating that he received a summons to appear as an accused at 5:00 pm that day.
“From today, I am an accused,” Petkov declared. “The prosecutor leading this case is Angel kanev, the former deputy chairman of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which we closed. There are no coincidences here.” Petkov added that he has been summoned for questioning at the Prosecutor’s Office on January 10th at 11:00 am.
The arrest of Borisov took place on March 17, 2022, when Boyko Rashkov was the minister of Internal Affairs and Petkov himself was Prime Minister. Along with Borisov, former Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov and the GERB party’s publicist, Sevdelina Arnaudova, were also detained.
Petkov criticized the timing of the legal actions, suggesting they are politically motivated. He pointed to the fact that Asen Vassilev’s driver, “Lacho,” was detained during the Christmas holidays as an example of these tactics. “They kept him in custody without reason,” Petkov stated, referencing lacho’s detention. He also mentioned the immunity request for Lena Borislavova, another MP, and claimed that these actions are a smokescreen to divert attention from the attacks on his party.
“Mr. Peevski’s clubs want to show that they are systematically attacking the We Continue the Change party on all fronts,” Petkov asserted. “But I want to assure you that we are steadfast and will not stop fighting until bulgaria becomes a legal state.Until those Peevski-associated individuals stop acting with impunity.”
Petkov expressed confidence that mr.Peevski would never be a legitimate politician, stating ”The ’sanitary cordon’ worked in Bulgaria, and it will work throughout Europe. No one will want to be associated with him. And no matter how much he thinks his allies will help him, he will eventually be pushed out of Bulgarian political life. We will fight until we see this happen.”
Immunity Requests Spark Political debate
The Bulgarian political landscape is once again embroiled in controversy as immunity requests for Members of Parliament (MPs) have fueled intense debates. Lena Borislavova, co-chairman of the PP party, announced her intention to relinquish her immunity, but stated she would do so after the holidays. She criticized Chief Prosecutor Borislav Sarafov, suggesting he was attempting to disrupt her family’s holiday season, just as he allegedly did with the family of Lachezar Stavrev. Borislavova emphasized her trust in the legal process, asserting that she has nothing to fear if the proceedings are conducted fairly, without fabricated evidence or witness testimonies. Asen Vassilev, a prominent figure in the political arena, also weighed in on the issue. He pointed out a pattern in the recent activity of the prosecutor’s office: immunity requests have been notably absent for MPs from GERB, BSP, ITN, and DB – parties currently engaged in government formation negotiations. Vassilev questioned this apparent disconnect, suggesting either these parties are free from legal scrutiny or that the prosecutor’s office is driven by political motivations rather than legal ones.## archyde Exclusive: Former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov Speaks Out on Charges
**Archyde Exclusive Interview with Kiril Petkov, Former Bulgarian Prime Minister**
**[Introduction music]**
**Host:** Welcome to Archyde Explains. Today, we have a very special Alex Reed, former Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov. Mr. Petkov, thank you for joining us.
**Petkov:**
Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Mr.Petkov, you recently made headlines when you announced that you have been formally charged in connection with the arrest of Boyko Borisov, the leader of GERB. Can you tell us more about these charges and the context surrounding them?
**Petkov:** It’s a very serious situation. I received a summons this very day to appear as an accused at the Prosecutor’s Office. The charges stem from the arrest of Mr. Borisov in March 2022, when I was Prime Minister.
**Host:** The arrest of Mr. Borisov was a meaningful event in Bulgarian politics. What can you tell us about your role in that event?
**Petkov:** At that time, I was Prime Minister and Boyko Rashkov was the Minister of internal Affairs. The arrest was a result of an inquiry led by the authorities. My recollection is that Mr. Borisov was arrested on concerns of corruption and misuse of public funds,allegations he vehemently denies.
**Host:** You mentioned that the prosecutor leading your case is Angel Kanev, the former deputy chairman of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which your government closed.Can you elaborate on that and how it might impact the case?
**Petkov:** Yes, this is a significant point. There seems to be a troubling pattern here. Mr. Kanev was a prominent figure in the Special prosecutor’s Office, an institution we closed due to concerns about it’s lack of transparency and accountability. Now, he is leading the case against me, raising serious questions about potential bias and political motivation.[1]
**Host:** You have stated that you believe these charges are politically motivated.Can you elaborate on your reasoning?
**Petkov:**
The timing of these charges is highly suspicious. They come at a time when I am actively involved in opposition politics, critical of the current government.
**Host:** What are your next steps in addressing these charges?
**Petkov:** I intend to fully cooperate with the investigation.I am confident that a fair and impartial examination of the facts will demonstrate my innocence.
**Host:** Thank you, Mr. Petkov, for your candor and for sharing your perspective with our viewers.
**Petkov:** Thank you for having me.
**(outro music)**
[[[1](https://www.thecipherbrief.com/experts/kiril-petkov)]
## Interview: Kiril Petkov Responds to Charges and Political Maneuvering in Bulgaria
**Archyde News:** Thank you for joining us, Mr.Petkov. This is a important advancement. Can you tell us more about the charges you’re facing and your reaction to them?
**Kiril Petkov:** Thank you for having me. As you know, I received a summons to appear as an accused in relation to the arrest of Boyko Borisov. The timing of this, just before the holidays, feels incredibly politically motivated. This is a clear attempt to distract from the actual issues facing Bulgaria and to attack both the We Continue the Change party and my personal standing.
**Archyde News:** You mentioned political motivation. Can you elaborate on that?
**Kiril Petkov:** Absolutely. This prosecutor, Angel Kanev, was the deputy chairman of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which our government shut down as it was riddled with corruption and used for politically motivated prosecutions. The fact that he is now leading this case speaks volumes. Moreover, look at the pattern: Asen Vassilev’s driver was detained during the holidays, Lena Borislavova is facing pressure to relinquish her immunity. These are clear attempts to intimidate us and divert attention from the real challenges Bulgaria faces.
**Archyde News:** You were Prime Minister
when Mr.Borisov was arrested. Clearly, you believe this is a response to your actions then?
**Kiril Petkov:** Mr. Borisov’s arrest was carried out by the judicial system after thorough investigation.I acted within the bounds of the law, as any responsible leader would do. These charges are a transparent attempt to punish me for holding him accountable.
**Archyde News:** How do you see this impacting the current political landscape in Bulgaria?
**Kiril Petkov:** Mr. Peevski and his associates want to show they have the power to silence any opposition,
but they are wrong. We Continue the Change will not be deterred.
We remain focused on building a fairer, more transparent Bulgaria for all citizens.This legal battle is just another hurdle we must overcome to achieve our goals.
**Archyde News:** Thank you for your time and insightful viewpoint,Mr. Petkov.
**Kiril Petkov:** thank you.
**Archyde News:** To our viewers, this is a developing story, and we will continue to follow it closely.
