Former PM Borissov’s Lawyer: There is no evidence that Vassil Bozhkov was blackmailed

Absolutely nothing was seized at the home of my client Boyko Borisov, the protocol is empty. In Mrs Arnaudova's home, they seized a notebook with "Borisov" written on it and promotional materials with Boyko Borisov's face from the previous elections. This is what Menko Menkov, the lawyer of former Prime Minister Borissov and GERB PR officer Sevdalina Arnaudova, told BNT programme “More from the Day” on March 21.

According to him, the only very important thing that was seized was an official congratulatory address from businessman Vassil Bozhkov to the PR of Boyko Borissov’s government (at that time) - Mrs. Arnaudova, with thanks. According to him, this is proof that there is no way that Vassil Bozhkov was blackmailed and at the same time sending a letter of congratulations.

"So the ruling of the Sofia City Court has absolutely no significance for the further course of the trial. So far there is no evidence gathered under the procedure of the Code of Criminal Procedure that Mr Vasil Bozhkov was blackmailed. The investigation was conducted absolutely unlawfully," lawyer Menkov was adamant.

Investigating police officers from the Ministry of Interior, according to article 194 paragraph 1, item 2 of the Penal Procedure Code, are not allowed to investigate members of the Council of Ministers, which Mr Borissov and Mr Goranov undoubtedly were at that time, he explained.

Menkov reported on his meeting with MEPs who had specially arrived to investigate the case - Monika Holmeier, chair of the Budget Committee in the EP and has the power to request information from the European Public Prosecutor's Office, and Jeroen Lenaars. He said that they were shocked by what had happened.

They are meeting with the Bulgarian Chief Prosecutor and are due to meet with the Prime Minister, Mr Kiril Petkov, and the Minister of Interior, Mr Boyko Rashkov.

He is adamant that the work of the investigating police officers, who are independent by law, has been continuously influenced. He noted that at the time when he was already at the home of Mr. Boyko Borissov, the investigating police officers received a phone call and he overheard them being told "Arrest him, handcuff him and get him in front of the media", Menkov said.

Lawter Menkov added that as at that time the announcement to the media that Boyko Borissov, Vladislav Goranov and Sevdelina Arnaudova were detained had already been uploaded. "They had not yet been detained at that time," the lawyer said.

The draft warrant on the detention of Borissov, Arnaudova and Goranov, submitted by the Ministry of Interior to the Prosecutor's Office, is of no significance. "Whatever the Ministry of Interior does in these proceedings is unlawful," Borissov's lawyer stressed.

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