Bulgaria’s anti-corruption commission on January 14 published an official position of the outgoing head, Sotir Tsatsarov, in relation to the withdrawal of his access to classified information.
"Today, at 13.20, in my office in the building of the anti-corruption commission, employees of the State Agency for National Security (SANS) handed me a paper for revocation of my permission for access to classified information. The revocation is based on Article 59, paragraph 1, item 2 of the Law on Protection of classified Information: "the person has committed a violation of the law or the by-laws on its implementation, which has created a risk of occurrence or has led to significant damage to the interests of the state, organisations or individuals in the field of protection of classified information.
The revocation paper was signed this morning by the Deputy Chairman of SANS, in the absence of the Chairman. According to Tsatsarov, this happened after prolonged institutional pressure on the agency's leadership by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and Minister of Interior, Boyko Rashkov.
According to Tsatsarov, the Prime Minister announced the news to the media an hour and a half before the order was officially served. However, the withdrawal of access to classified information was not the reason for his resignation.
"On the contrary, my intention announced yesterday is the reason for the issuing of the document for the withdrawal of my access this morning. I also understand the reasons for this - if for Minister Rashkov they are related to a desire for personal revenge, as well as to the inspections on his property, for Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and for the people who determine his behaviour, this is an attempt to divert public attention from the real problems, the solution of which he himself is facing," Tsatsarov wrote.