Jurgen Roth Wins Court Battle in Bulgaria

Jurgen Roth decided not to come to Bulgaria for the trial, saying he fears for his life. Photo by BGNES

A Bulgarian court has cleared renowned German publicist Jurgen Roth, who was sued by Bulgaria's former Interior Minister Rumen Petkov over alleged slanders in his book about organized crime in Bulgaria, entitled "The new Demons".

Sofia District Court rejected the former minister claim that Roth pays him BGN 10,000 in damages.

The trial was held behind closed doors due to the high-profile witnesses, including former head of Unit for Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP) Vanyo Tanov and Former Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Valentin Petrov.

In the book Roth cites sources making scandalous statements that Petkov has relations to organized criminal networks and is involved in the production of synthetic drugs in Bulgaria.

According to high-level unnamed officials in the Interior, quoted by Roth, the former interior minister personally controls the trafficking of amphetamines from Bulgaria to Turkey and the Middle East, which was the practice of the Security Services during the communist regime. Petkov is also said to have met with criminal figures involved in drug production.

The investigative journalist has repeatedly confirmed that he stands behind every single word that he has written and would have done everything in the same way if he had to write his book today.

Jurgen Roth has decided not to come to Bulgaria for the trial, saying he fears for his life.

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