Former police chief was not informed of plans to arrest Boyko Borissov

Bulgaria’s then police chief was not informed of plans to arrest former prime minister and GERB leader Boyko Borissov and two of his associates in 2022, a witness told Sofia City Court. 

Yavor Simov, who headed the Interior Ministry’s press office at the time, gave the evidence at the trial of former prime minister Kiril Petkov, who faces charges of misconduct in office and exceeding his authority over the arrests, BNR reporter Silvia Velikova said.

Simov told the court that Petar Todorov, then chief secretary of the Interior Ministry and now an MP for Progressive Bulgaria, had asked the day after the arrests: “How can you do this without it being reported to me?”

Simov said he himself had learned of the operation only after it had begun.

Borissov, GERB’s PR officer Sevdalina Arnaudova and former Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov were arrested in 2022, when Petkov was prime minister.

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The trial continues on October 27, when Todorov and National Protection Service (NSO) head Emil Tonev are due to testify.

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Editor: Miglena Ivanova