Bulgaria Rightists Accuse Ethnic Turkish Leader of Protectionism

Martin Dimitrov (l) and Dimo Gyaurov (r) from the Blue Coalition at the Tuesday press conference when they revealed evidence of numerous violations at PUDOOS, the National Agriculture Fund and the National Road Agency. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's rightists presented Tuesday a letter that evidences political protectionism on the part of the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) during the previous cabinet's term.

The Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) has obtained a letter from the notorious Mayor of the village of Ribnovo, Ahmed Bashev, addressed to the DPS leader, Ahmed Dogan, and cc-ed to former Environmental Minister, Dzhevded Chakarov, also from DPS, in which Bashev personally asks Dogan for help in securing funds for a new plumbing system for the village.

The letter is dated November 28, 2006 and just 13 days later the project was received by the State owned, Management of Environmental Activities (PUDOOS). The requested amount has been granted the very next day.

In the letter Bashev thanks Dogan for the new roads in the area built with State and EU funds, but says the lack of water “can impede the locals' good mood.”

The UDF leader, Martin Dimitrov, pointed out that people in nearby villages with mostly Bulgarian, and not ethnic Turkish population, with similar problems and projects are still waiting for funds.

Ahmed Bashev became known in 2009 when the State Agency for National Security (DANS) began a probe into his activities and the activities of local teachers, over allegations of spreading radical Islam.

Another document, presented by UDF, shows that the Socialist Mayor of the village of Krumovo, also in the Rhodope mountains, had asked for BGN 1,25 M from PUDOOS for plumbing and was granted BGN 1,5 M instead.

UDF demands the immediate closing of PUDOOS over numerous violations, adding that until now, the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party had failed to fulfill their election promises to make a full audit of the previous cabinet.

It was revealed earlier Tuesday that the National Audit Office had notified the Prosecutor about numerous violations they discovered at PUDOOS, the National Agriculture Fund and the National Road Agency.

The Member of the Parliament of the so-called Blue Coalition between UDF and Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) and Chair of the Parliamentary Anti-Corruption Committee, Dimo Gyaurov, further announced that BGN 10 M have been paid in advance in 2007 by the Road Agency for road construction, but no roads have ever been built, adding the amount might end up being much higher.

UDF also presented information that the Agriculture Fund had paid BGN 90 M subsidies for nonexistent lands while BGN 60 M have been given to consulting businesses, involving serious conflict of interests. BGN 300 000 have been paid to a company to create a strategy of staff development at the Fund, which was done in 10 days and was just 8-pages long.

Dimitrov vowed to submit all documentation personally to Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, while Dimo Gyaurov, pointed out the evidence is the Blue Coalition's own and had not been submitted with the Anti-Corruption Committee.

DPS already countered that it is a common practice for local mayors to sent to their respective Members of the Parliament letters and reports, including GERB mayors. They explain the fact Bashev's letter was addressed to the party chair and not to the MP with the DPS rules of party etiquette.

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