Bulgaria’s Caretaker Interior Minister Backs Opposition’s Eavesdropping Claims

Caretaker Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov. Source: President.bg

In an interview on Friday morning, he added that caretaker Prime Minister Stephan Yanev has also been tracked by the security agencies over the same period. Rashkov, a lawyer, warned that he believed evidence about the wiretapping is being destroyed. 

The minister made the claim after Atanas Atanasov, of the opposition Democratic Bulgaria alliance, made the same allegation in an interview for Bulgarian National Radio earlier that day. Atanasov alleged that up to 32 members of "There's Such a Nation", Democratic Bulgaria and "Stand Up.BG! Mobsters Out!" had been eavesdropped.

"Bulgarian society needs to know what kind of methods have been used to keep Boyko Borissov's power safe," Atanasov said, referencing former prime minister and GERB party boss Borissov. 

All three opposition parties to longtime ruling GERB party gained momentum during the 2020-2021 protest wave against the political status quo, and became a new presence in parliament following the inconclusive April elections. However, they failed to find enough common ground to form a coalition and still differ in political views.

Prosecutors are currently looking into the eavesdropping claims. All the directors of National Security and Technical Operations are reportedly on leave. 

Former PM and GERB leader Borissov and Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev, who reportedly eavesdropped on President Rumen Radev in early 2020, are yet to comment on the claims. Uncharacteristically, Borissov has been shying away from media lately and has made no recent statements or appearances. 

His previous GERB-led cabinet was also involved in a series of extortion claims that are currently being investigated by the prosecution....