Bulgaria’s ex-Prime Minister Borissov released again

Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Borissov has been released following investigations into allegations of corruption. There were no specific allegations. Investigators said there was insufficient evidence.

Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov has been released 24 hours after his arrest. As reported by the media, he left the police headquarters in the capital Sofia on Friday evening. “No accusations, nothing,” said Borisov, according to a report by the TV channel bTV. Supporters of his GERB party, who had gathered in front of the police headquarters, cheered.

Ex-Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov and Borisov’s former media adviser Sevdalina Arnaudowa, who were also arrested the night before, were also released.

Suspicion of blackmail instead of misuse of EU funds

There were initially no allegations against any of the three freedmen. The evidence was considered insufficient by the Sofia Prosecutor’s Office. “Possibly making allegations at this point would be a violation of the law,” said spokeswoman Dessislava Petrova. This could change as more evidence is gathered.

The day after Borisov’s arrest, the judiciary no longer linked his detention to a misuse of EU funds. The public prosecutor’s office in Sofia announced that the pre-trial investigation on suspicion of extortion is ongoing and excludes the competence of the EU public prosecutor’s office. This contradicts an original information from the Ministry of the Interior, which has since been removed from the website. There were no specific allegations.

Finance Minister Assen Vasilev attributed Borisov’s arrest to a tip-off by a Bulgarian gambling magnate living in exile in Dubai, against whom 18 charges have been brought in Bulgaria. He accuses Borisov, ex-Finance Minister Goranov and Borisov’s media adviser Arnaudowa of blackmail.

Borisov was Bulgaria’s prime minister from 2009 to 2021, with a short break. Just last Sunday, the 62-year-old was re-elected head of his conservative GERB party, which is currently the largest opposition force. Demonstrators repeatedly accused Borisov of corrupt administration.