'Slandered' Bulgarian Ex Interior Minister Strikes Back

Bulgarian Minister of Interior Tsvetan Tsvetanov should stop brandishing accusations for which he has no backing, according to his predecessor Rumen Petkov.

Earlier Friday Tsvetanov, together with customs chief Vanyo Tanov, had accused Petkov, (interior minister 2005-8) for being an active figure in the organization of drug trafficking across Bulgaria.

According to mysterious information revealed by both Tsvetanov and Tanov, the notorious meeting of Petkov with murky Dupnitsa businessmen, the Galevi Brothers, actually concerned the partitioning of drug-distribution territories within the country. This was the meeting that both prompted the ousting of Petkov as a minister and launched then-secret agent Aleksei Petrov as a public figure.

Friday Minsiter Tsvetanov had intriguingly confessed that his allegations cannot be substantiated, for the classified records of the conversation between ex-minister Petkov and the Galevi brothers had been destroyed by police under Petkov's orders.

Responding to the allegations, Petkov called that "a lie" and requested that Tsvetanov make a full check-up of records to track their history and what is contained in them.

He also recalled that Friday's attack against him is not isolated.

"Tsvetanov allows himself to utter speculative statements regarding Bulgaria's President, he manifestly lies regarding the previous work of the Ministry of Interior. When one says such things aobout the state one must back them with evidence!" exclaimed the former Minister of Interior.

Controversial socialist politician Rumen Petkov has recently lost a libel suit against German investigative journalist Jurgen Roth, regarding the latter's book "The New Bulgarian Demons," in which he accused Petkov of having serious ties and even organizing trade with drugs in Bulgaria. Petkov has vowed to appeal and press his case against Roth, calling him a "liar and mudslinger".

In the meanwhile, representatives of the Ataka parliamentary group, which has been supportive of the GERB cabinet, have stated that they will request the lifting of the immunity Petkov enjoys as a MP, so that he may be investigated.

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