Bulgaria Interior Minister Confirms 'Octopus'-'Impudent' Mafia Ties

Bulgaria's Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, says The Impudent and The Octopus gangs are connected. Photo by BGNES

Files with documents from probes of the State Agency for National Security (DANS) have been found inside the “Spartak” swimming facility where Aleksei Petrov offices are located.

The information was stated for the media Tuesday by Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, cited by the Bulgarian news agency BTA.

Aleksei Petrov was arrested together with 13 other people on February 10 in Operation Octopus when police searched his offices at the Spartak pool complex, which he owns, together with a number of other premises around Sofia.

The documents were probably used to manipulate, pressure or blackmail people for economic and political gains, and to destabilize the State, according to Tsvetanov, who declined to say if Petrov will be also charged with leaking classified information from DANS.

In a Sunday interview for the TV channel Nova Televizia, the Interior Minister first revealed the information about the DANS files found in Petrov's offices.

“The answer to the question if there is a connection between the kidnappers known as The Impudent and the Octopus gang is most likely “yes,” Tsvetanov said Sunday, stressing on the name of Anton Petrov aka The Hamster, who is a defendant in both cases, and on the fact that nothing could have been done without Aleksei Petrov's knowledge.

On Tuesday, Tsvetanov pointed out that as an undercover Secret Services agent, Aleksei Petrov did not help the State at all, but his personal profits have been huge. The Interior Minister offered as example the fact that Petrov owes the State BGN 1,5 M in taxes.

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