Alleged Bulgarian Lobbyist Acquitted of Tax Evasion

Krasimir Georgiev has been acquitted of tax evasion to the tune of BGN 95 000 in the period 2006-2008. Photo by BGNES

The Sofia City Court has acquitted notorious businessman and alleged court lobbyist Krasimir Georgiev, aka Krasio the Black, of tax evasion.

The proceedings and the verdict reading were held behind closed doors due to the presence of special surveillance devices among the case materials.

Georgiev was charged with tax evasion to the tune of around BGN 95 000 in the period 2006-2008.

At the request of the Commission for Establishing of Property Acquired from Criminal Activity, the court imposed an injunction freezing property and bank accounts of Georgiev worth BGN 1.05 M.

After Mondays' court session, Georgiev commented that justice had prevailed, adding that the documents had proved that he had been a loyal taxpayer.

The decision of the Sofia City Court can be appealed by the Prosecutor's Office before the Sofia Appellate Court.

In end-February, the Sofia City Court declared Georgiev guilty of perjury and gave him a two-year suspended sentence over testifying that he did not know any magistrates despite evidence to the contrary.

The name of Krasio the Black surfaced in the summer of 2009, when Ivan Kolev, member of the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS), announced that "some guy called Krasio from Pleven"  was "selling" senior posts in the judiciary for EUR 200 000.

Krasio was said to be able to "guarantee" the support of 8-13 members of a total of 27 members of the VSS.

A number of magistrates, including ones from supreme judicial bodies, were dismissed or resigned after the scandal broke out.

Georgiev was also investigated for trading in influence but the case did not reach court.

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