Bulgaria Court Interdicts Hotel Connected to Turkish Party Leader

The “Kasa Domini” hotel is one of the biggest facilities in the mountain resort of Ribaritsa. It is located in the town’s central part and employs about 20 people. Photo by BGNES

The District Court in Bulgaria’s northern city of Lovech has ordered a restraint on the “Kasa Domini” hotel in the mountain resort of Ribaritsa.

Arben Havaliov, who is said to be a close friend of the leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), Ahmed Dogan, was known as the owner of the hotel, but it was revealed Friday that it actually belongs to several companies and Yuriy Dudinski.

The restraint came on the request of the Committee in charge of seizing the illegally acquired assets in favor of the state or the so-called “Kushlev Committee”, named after its Head, Stoyan Kushlev.

Dudinski has been charged with participating in an organized crime group that drained over BGN 10 M through Value Added Tax (VAT), using several fake or bankrupt companies. Havaliov is also investigated for the above crime.

On January 25, the Court in the western city of Pernik, issued a 3-year suspended sentence and a BGN 1 000 fine to Havaliov for tax evasion in the amount of BGN 451 000 and for illegally using both his Christian and Muslim names.

At the time, the leader of Bulgaria’s right-wing Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB), Ivan Kostov, wrote to the Kushlev Committee, asking if they have began a procedure to take over Havaliov’s properties.

Kushlev is quoted as saying: “There are many mysteries around this hotel, and a well-known businesswoman is involved.”

The DPS leader, allegedly, uses figureheads, who are listed as the owners of the properties, while in reality they belong to him.

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