Jurgen Roth Presents 'Gangster Economy' in Sofia, Meets PM

Jurgen Roth has so far steered clear of Bulgaria, saying he fears for his life, but now claims to have the official assurance of Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov that his security is guaranteed. Photo by BGNES

German top investigative journalist Jurgen Roth has arrived in the Bulgarian capital Sofia to present on Thursday the Bulgarian edition of his new book "Gangsterwirtschaft" ("Gangster Economy").

He is also scheduled to confer with Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

Jurgen Roth has so far steered clear of Bulgaria, saying he fears for his life, but now claims to have the official assurance of Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov that his security is guaranteed.

"I have the official statement from your Minister of Interior Tsvetan Tsvetanov that he will secure my visit in Bulgaria. And I also hope that Mr. Rumen Petkov will not order gangsters to do what he said two years ago – to beat me on every part of my body," Jurgen Roth said in an exclusive interview for Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency).

Roth spoke to Novinite.com days after he was cleared of allegations of slander in his book about organized crime in Bulgaria, entitled "The new demons", by former Interior Minister Rumen Petkov.

According to Roth Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov is on the right track, but the old nomenklatura, which has remained potent after the fall of communism, will use every instrument, even murder, to stop these reforms.

"In this moment the situation for both Boyko Borisov and Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov is very dangerous, because the old nomenklatura and powerful economic crime managers will use every instrument, also killing, to stop these reforms," Jurgen Roth said in the interview.

Asked whether he believes in the promises of the current government to investigate alleged crimes of the previous government, Roth said:

"I hope so. Let's see what happens in the next months. I am optimistic that they will start in the near future. Otherwise it will end in a disaster."

According to Roth, if Borisov does not want to lose and disappoint the people who voted for him, he must start now - as a politician who knows well the economic and social abuses in the wonderful country Bulgaria.

"If he and his government turn out to be a failure, who could do this job? The old parties, which are discredited?"

FULL TEXT of the interview READ HERE

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