Bulgarian Environment Minister Cleared of Conflict of Interest

In early December, Bulgarian Environment Minister Karadzhova described the conflict of interest accusations against her as "utter impudence". Photo by BGNES

The Conflict of Interest Committee in the Bulgarian Parliament has cleared Environment Minister Nona Karadzhova of conflict of interest accusations.

Environmental organizations claim that Karadzhova's former employer now wins projects in the sector of waste management and disposal.

Karadzhova was suspected of allocating a public procurement order to her former employer Botyu Tabakov and his firm E.K. OOD to develop amendments to the Waste Management Act for BGN 82 000.

Another company owned by Tabakov won a tender for the construction of a waste management system in the Yambol District.

What is more, Karadzhova was accused of having hired Tabakov's son as an expert at the Environment Ministry.

Karadzhova has told the Parliamentary Committee that she had no relations whatsoever with Tabakov, and that his son was appointed after winning a competition for his job, The Standard Daily reported Saturday.

The waste management contract in Yambol was signed in early 2009 before Karadzhova became a government member, and the tender was administered by the Yambol Municipality, the probe found.

Ruling party MPs are quoted as saying they were surprised that the Committee took up a probe against Karadzhova based on what they see a malicious and discrediting untrustworthy reports.

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