Notorious Roma Boss to Sue Bulgaria in Strasbourg
Crime | August 13, 2012, Monday // 11:31| viewsBulgarian Roma clan boss, Kiril Rashkov AKA Tsar Kiro, sits on his famous throne back in his days of "glory." Photo by BGNES
The family of notorious Roma boss Kiril Rashkov AKA Tsar Kiro is threatening to sue Bulgaria at the European Court of Human Rights, ECHR, based in Strasbourg, France,
Kostadinka and Sabka Rashkovi, wife and daughter of Tsar Kiro, made the statement before Darik radio Monday, saying the clan will return in the village of Katunista in a year.
Kostadinka further voiced conviction that her husband will be released from jail ahead of his sentence's term over ailing health. The family further declared intentions to rebuild their destroyed mansions in the village. They now live in the nearby city of Plovdiv.
The Mayor of Katunitsa, Krasimir Yurukov, is adamant the clan will never return there and says the locals are finally enjoying some peace and quiet.
"Life in Katunitsa is back to normal. People go to work, children go to school undisturbed. I want to thank all institutions in Bulgaria that applied effort to make sure Rashkovi have no place in our village," said Yurukov.
Tsar Kiro and his clan triggered widespread unrest across Bulgaria in September 2011 after the murder of a teenager in Katunitsa.
On September 23, 2011, a van driven by alleged associates of Rashkov ran down and killed 19-year-old ethnic Bulgarian Angel Petrov.
On the following day, protesting locals and groups of football fans from the nearby Plovdiv set fire to a number of properties of the Rashkovi clan.
The accident heightened ethnic tensions and triggered massive protests in major cities in the country.
In October 2011, the Regional Directorate for National Construction Control (RDNCC) issued nine orders for the demolition of illegal property owned by Rashkovi, including residential buildings, non-solid buildings and fences.
Rashkovi appealed the orders.
Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Cassations (VKS) has so far upheld three of the RDNCC demolition orders.
Residents of Katunitsa oppose the demolition of Rashkovi's illegal estates, saying that the buildings should be made legal and used for social institutions like homes for elderly people or SOS Children's Villages.
As the demolition works continue, police officers are guarding four of the houses owned by the Rashkovi clan in Katunitsa.
Kostadinka and Sabka blamed the State institutions for allowing the destruction of their properties, some of which were set on fire before the Court-ordered demolition in what is suspected to be cases of arson. They told Darik that Katunitsa is their home village and firmly denied their family has anything to do with the teen's death.
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