Bulgaria Criminal Property Agency Head Mysteriously Resigns

Todor Kolarov (C) at the Bulgarian Council of Ministers, together with PM Boyko Borisov (L), April 2011. BGNES

Todor Kolarov, chair of Bulgaria's Commission for Establishing of Property Acquired from Criminal Activity, has submitted his resignation Friday.

Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov has promptly responded he will accept the resignation, arguing that Kolarov had obstructed the work of the Commission.

On his part, Kolarov pointed out "a lack of a reform-minded majority in the Commission and a lack of political support on the part of Parliament and the President."

"I cannot accept a person whom I have appointed, to constantly create scandals in his agency and to try to excuse his failure to organize its work with alleged lack of support from institutions," retorted Borisov.

The state Commission for Establishing of Property Acquired from Criminal Activity is devoted to investigating reports of so-called "criminal wealth," as well as wealth from "unexplained sources."

Kolarov was appointed as the Commission's chair in April 2011, after then-chair Stoyan Kushlev was dismissed over conflicts of interest.

Friday Kolarov had given an interview for the Bulgarian National TV, saying that important revisions must be made in the Law on Counteracting Unexplained Wealth, which is currently standing for second reading in Parliament.

An official statement of the Commission on its chair's resignation has not been made.