Ex Bulgaria Agri Minister Denies Guilt over Land Swap Charges

Valeri Tsvetanov stated that the charges did not worry him as he has full faith in the Bulgarian judicial system. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Former Bulgaria Agriculture Minister, Valeri Tsvetanov, who was charged Tuesday with malfeasance in office, has denied any wrongdoing.

Tsvetanov has been charged with making illegal land swaps but he claimed Tuesday that all land swaps were made legally. He added that the charges did not worry him as he has full faith in the Bulgarian judicial system.

Regarding the charges bought against Stefan Yurukov, the former head of the Bulgarian forest agency, Tsvetanov stated that Yurukov had nothing to do with any land swap deals. He therefore added that he was perplexed by the charges and questioned the political motives behind the move.

Tsvetanov's lawyer, Vasil Vasilev, stated that Tsvetanov had committed absolutely no violations and concluded that it was "shameful" that the charges were bought against his client.

Tsvetanov was officially charged with malfeasance in office hours after he was called in for questioning at the National Investigation Service.

The allegedly illegal land swaps was one of the most controversial alleged corruption schemes during the previous Socialist-led tri-partite government.

The news comes as the new center-right GERB government is making efforts to convince Brussels that it has set out on an all-out war on corruption and organized crime.