Bulgarian 'Octopus' Threatens to Reveal PM's 'Dark' Secrets

Domestic | February 8, 2011, Tuesday // 10:49|  views

The Sofia City Court changed the house arrest of controversial businessman and former DANS employee, Aleksei Petrov, to the lightest measure. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, cannot change in political aspect over dark secrets from the past, according to Aleksei Petrov.

The controversial businessman and former employee of Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security (DANS), made the statement in an interview for Darik radio after the Sofia City changed his house arrest measure to own recognizance.

Aleksei Petrov was arrested one year ago, (February 10, 2010), in a much advertised special police operation codenamed "Octopus" and charged with a number of crimes. He was released under house arrest in October 2010.

Until this week, Petrov avoided comments on Borisov, and put all the blame on Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, but now says he kept quiet over a promise he made to the PM. The interview does not reveal what made him change his mind and what secrets he is going to tell in 20 days, but includes a statement Borisov had doomed himself to political failure with the "Octopus" arrest.

"Tsvetanov has exhausted all his political resource. Borisov, it seems in theory, has some minimal options to change. But it is going to be difficult. If you invite me somewhere in three weeks, I will tell you why. Tsvetanov is the moving force behind everything that happened in the last year, but it happened, of course, under Borisov's patronage. I continue to insist the PM has been mislead, which does not mean he should not bear any responsibility in general and my arrest in particular. He had shared with me, in personal conversations, his worries I might put some pressure on his rule. He made the decision to arrest me and he will suffer a huge loss from it. And his coalition partners – more so the nationalist Ataka, followed by the right-wing Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) misled him," Petrov says in the interview.

The former DANS agent further informs he has learned how a witness has been both pressured and offered a huge amount of money to commit perjury and testify against him, to the extend the said individual was forced to relocate abroad with his family – in Austria.

Petrov goes on to say he revealed details before investigative German journalist, Jurgen Roth, who would not be able to deny them since the conversation between the two had been recorded.

"I told Roth that Borisov makes all the decisions while Tsvetanov is a decoy. The latter, in reality, is not an Interior Minister; he is a spokesperson. I did not tell Bulgarian reporters this until now because no one would listen," the "Octopus" points out.

He further reiterates his arrest aimed at removing him from politics and society, adding those in power had decided that the only way to do it would be to jail him.

"I am certain they knew the end result would be favorable for me and I would not be sentenced. But the idea behind my arrest was to turn on the propaganda and label me as criminal to prevent me from being active in politics," Petrov says.

When asked about his political future and his possible run for president, the former DANS agent replies his precise role in the upcoming elections would become clear on May 1, pointing out he had the self-assurance he would be useful in the security, economy and sports sectors.

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Tags: Jurgen Roth, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Boyko Borisov, recognizance, house arrest, Sofia City Court, Presidential elections, Octopus, Aleksei Petrov, DANS, Borisov, Tsvetanov, Ataka, DSB

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