New Arrests Loom for Bulgaria's 'Untouchables'

Bulgaria's Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, says organized crime has inflitrated the country's judicial system and several political parties. Photo by BGNES

The high-profile police operation codenamed “The Untouchables” is not over and new arrests are pending, according to Bulgaria's Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov.

Tsvetanov, who spoke Monday in a TV interview, informed that the crime group had drained BGN 11 M already and their schemes included transferring companies to people with low social status, mostly Roma, to drain Value Added Tax (VAT).

A total of 16 persons were arrested last Thursday on suspicions they are part of an organized group dealing with financial crimes. Of those, only 5 were charged and just 1 remains behind bars - the others have been released on bail.

Tsetanov further explained that the involvement of controversial Bulgarian tycoon, Hristo Kovachki, in the crime group is a matter of providing sound evidence and the probe needs to include the National Revenue Agency.

The Minister reiterated his belief the judicial system is contaminated with organized crime and there is evidence that links supreme magistrates to people from the “Octopus” group and that the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) is serving interests of oligarchs.

14 people were arrested in February in another police operation codenamed “Octopus.” The gang is accused of racketeering, money laundering, prostitution, illegal drug trafficking and trading in of influence. Only 2 of those detained remain behind bars – alleged ringleader Aleksei Petrov and Marcelo Dzholotov, who is said to be a key figure in the group.

Tsvetanov confirmed for the first time that Veselin Pengezov, the Head of the Sofia Appellate Court, is the magistrate he earlier accused of ties with the “Octopus,” adding that exactly because of cases like this Bulgarians don't believe in the judicial system and feel threatened. Pengezov, meanwhile, had denied all allegations.

The Minister also stated that both operations - “Octopus” and “The Untouchables” have revealed ties between the gangs and the conservative “Order, Law and Justice” party and the LIDER party, founded by Kovachki. RZS has parliamentary representation, but LIDER failed to win seats during the summer 2009 elections.

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