Bulgaria's Jeleva Is New EU Commissioner for International Cooperation

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister, Rumiana Jeleva, has been named the new EU Commissioner on International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

The portfolios of each of the 27 new members of the European Commission were announced Friday by EC President, Jose Manuel Barroso.

Detailed up-to-date information on new Bulgarian EU Commissioner Rumiana Jeleva is READ HERE

Jeleva had announced earlier on Friday that she was expecting to get to be in charge of a foreign policy portfolio.

The Bulgarian government and Prime Minister Boyko Borisov had bidden for the EU Commission on energy or enlargement job.

Who Is Who: Rumiana Jeleva, Bulgarian EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response

Biography

Rumiana Ruseva Jeleva was born on April 18, 1969, in the town of Nova Zagora, Southeast Bulgaria.

In 1988, Jeleva graduated from the German Language High School in the city of Burgas. In 1994, she earned a Master's degree in social pedagogy from Sofia University "St. Kliment of Ohrid".

In 1995, Jeleva completed a second Master's degree in sociology at the same university. In 2003, Jeleva earned her Ph. D. in sociology from the Otto-von-Guericke University in Germany. She has additional specializations in social sciences and economic sociology at other German universities.

In 2005, Jeleva became a Scientific Associate, I-st Grade, Ph. D. in Sociology at the Sociology Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Section "Sociology of Labor and Social Policy". Since 2007, she has been a visiting professor of European Studies at the University of Magdeburg, Germany.

In 2004-2007, Manager, National Center "New Social Practices", NGO - development and management of social projects. In 2001-2003; 2006-2007 Manager, Global Consult Ltd., consulting services - preparation, implementation, management and monitoring of social and infrastructural projects

Jeleva has held a number of positions on governing boards: member of the Supervisory Board of Privatization Board "Labor and Capital" JSC - privatization and asset management (1996-1998); Member of the Board of Directors of Eztour JSC, Pravets - tourism (1997-1998); Member of the Board of Directors of Plastimo JSC, Samokov - chemistry (1997-1998); Executive Member of the Board of Directors of National Investment Fund "Labor" JSC - asset management (1995-1998).

In 1997-2006, Jeleva held various teaching jobs in sociology, economic sociology, corporate PR and communications, labor legislation, and human resources development at various Bulgarian universities including Sofia University St. Kliment of Ohrid, New Bulgarian University, Burgas Free University, and Plovdiv University "Paisiy Hilendarski"

Jeleva has managed and has participated in various research and social projects including UNDP and PHARE program projects. She has attended numerous international conferences and seminars on sociology and social issues presenting papers.

In May 2007, Jeleva was elected Member of the European Parliament from the GERB party. She was fifth on the GERB European Parliament ticket, and GERB got 5 MEP seats winning 21,69% of the votes.

In May 2009, Jeleva was placed as No. 1 on the GERB party European Parliament ticket. She was reelected to the EU Parliament in the June 2009 Elections.

In July 2009, Jeleva was became the Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of the GERB party and Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

Public Service Record

May 2007 - July 2009 - Member of the European Parliament, GERB party, and a Member of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament

July 2009 - November 2009 - Foreign Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria

Elections Record

May 2007 - elected Member of the European Parliament, GERB party, She was fifth on the GERB European Parliament ticket, and GERB got 5 MEP seats winning 21,69% of the votes.

June 2009 - reelected Member of the European Parliament, GERB party. She was first on the GERB European Parliament ticket.

RUSSIAN INVESTIGATORS CONFIRM TERROR BOMB ATTACK ON ELITE TRAIN

Russian officials investigating the Friday train crash that killed at least 26 people, have confirmed that an improvised bomb caused the fatal derailment.

The head of Russia’s counter-terrorism services announced that the bomb, hidden on the railway line between Moscow and St Petersburg, contained about 7 kg of TNT explosive.

Two large cranes were deployed on Sunday to move wreckage, as rescue workers continued to search for 18 missing passengers. Almost 100 people were being treated in hospital, many with severe injuries.

The elite Nevsky Express was carrying 682 passengers and 29 crew from Moscow to Russia's second city St Petersburg. It was derailed at 9 30 pm on Friday, close to the village of Uglovka, 250 miles north west of Moscow.

Witnesses from among the passengers have described the crash.

One survivor told Russian radio station Ekho Moskvy; “We heard an almighty smack. It seemed to me as if we had lost a wheel or smashed through some kind of obstacle. I didn't hear any explosion.”

Many passengers were unaware that the train had broken up, with the last three wagons of the 14-carriage train flying off the rails.

"The first wagon was 1,5-2 kms away from the rest of the train. The second had completely flipped over. The third had come off the rails, but was near the main part of the train and was still standing vertically. As far as I know nobody from this wagon was seriously hurt," the witness said.

Among the declared dead so far were several senior Kremlin bureaucrats, including the head of Russia's Federal Reserve Agency, and a deputy head in the Federal Fishing Agency. A former St Petersburg senator also died.

There seems little doubt that the Kremlin will point the finger of blame at Islamist insurgents currently waging a guerrilla campaign across the north Caucasus. Rebel fighters have carried out numerous attacks in recent months, including suicide bombings.

"As far as theories go… our main version is that this was an explosion of an unknown device, by unknown individuals. Put simply, it was an act of terror," Vladimir Yakunin, Russia's Railways Minister, said yesterday.

Yakunin said the incident was "analogous" to another derailment on the same line three years ago, also involving the Nevsky Express, in which 19 people were injured. Russian prosecutors blamed that derailment directly on Chechen rebels.

EMPLOYEES SICK AT INDIAN NUCLEAR PLANT, SABOTAGE SUSPECTED

Workers at the Kaiga nuclear plant in the southern Indian state of Karnakata have been massively exposed to radiation in contaminated drinking water.

Site officials suspect sabotage, India's Atomic Energy Commission chief Anil Kakodkar has announced on Sunday.

The Kaiga plant director added that "mischief is not ruled out. Investigations are ongoing", commenting that the sabotage might have been carried out by a disgruntled employee.

An initial probe had failed to reveal any violation of operating procedures or “radioactivity releases” or any security breach, according to official statements.

Fifty-five workers at the nuclear plant needed medical treatment for excessive exposure to radiation after tritium contaminated a water cooler.

Tritium, also known as Hydrogen-3, is used in research, fusion reactors and neutron generators.

The water cooler has now been "isolated and put out of use," according to the company’s web site.

India has a total of 11 nuclear reactors across the country. The Kaiga plant went into commission in September 1999. A new reactor on the same site is due to begin production in 2010.

FRENCH POLICE BUSTS BULGARIAN ID FORGERS

The French authorities raided a lab specializing in the fabrication of fake Bulgarian, Romanian, Portuguese, and former Yugoslav Republics’ IDs, the French Le Figaro informs.

The criminal network operated in the departments of Val-de-Marne, l'Essonne and la Seine-Saint-Denis, near Paris.

French police believes that the skillfully made fake IDs were used by many Eastern European emigrants in the Paris region to illegally receive social assistance and live on welfare.

On Friday, 8 of the forgers faced the judge in Créteil, southeast of Paris, and were charged with the manufacturing and use of fake IDs and assisting the illegal entry and stay of foreigners in France.

The illegal lab was discovered by authorities Wednesday in an apartment in Vitry-sur-Seine, near Paris. The criminals are said to be mostly Romanian and Moldavian citizens, who also made fake university diplomas, labor contracts, insurance policies and invoices.

In addition, the criminal network dealt with theft of alcoholic beverages with a supermarket security guard as accomplice.

The group is alleged to have been managed by Eastern European mafia structures, Le Figaro writes.

ITALIAN POLICE ARREST SUSPECT IN BULGARIAN WOMAN PADUA MURDER

The police in the Italian city of Padua have arrested the alleged killer of the Bulgarian woman, Albena Petrova Birdi.

The news was reported Saturday by the Italian daily Corriere del Veneto.

The woman’s body was found in an advanced stage of decay in a drainage channel in Padua on the morning of October 20. A post-mortem examination of the body, conducted by Padua’s police forensic doctor revealed that the woman had died as a result of blows inflicted to the left side of her skull.

54-year-old Antonio Prandato, who lived in a trailer in the small town Galzignano Terme was detained over suspicions he killed the 35-year-old Bulgarian in his car.

Italian police say the woman was a prostitute and this is how she ended in Prandato’s car. The man hit her with an unidentified heavy object and then threw the body in the drainage channel. The murder happened in September, Italian authorities inform.

Prandato tried to conceal the evidence, but was unable to completely clean the car seat soaked with the victim’s blood. A DNA probe of the woman matched the blood in the car.

The motives for the crime remain unclear, ranging between an arguement over illegal drugs gone bad, a ritual murder of a prostitute or jealousy over the fact Albena Birdi was seeing other men than Prandato.

KIDNAPPERS RELEASE SON OF BULGARIAN BUSINESSMAN

The 22-year-old student Rumen Guninski has been released by his kidnappers late Sunday night.

This has been reported by the bTV channel citing Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov, who said that Guninski Jr was in good health.

The son of wealthy businessman Rumen Guninski Sr was kidnapped in public in the Studentski Grad Quarter in Sofia exactly 40 days ago.

"I can only confirm this information, and ask you to leave to work," the Chief Interior Secretary Kalin Georgiev told the bTV channel later Sunday night.

It is still unclear whether the young man’s family paid a ransom for his release.

BULGARIA SUMO WRESTLER KOTOOSHU SCORES GREAT WIN IN FUKUOKA

Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kotooshu won a crucial match against grand champion, the Yokozuna Asashoryu late Friday.

Kaloyan Mahlyanov aka Kotooshu handed the Mongolian his first defeat during the 14th round of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka. There is only one round remaining before the winners are announced.

The victory is a sweet revenge for the Bulgarian who suffered a crushing defeat during his playoff with the Ulan Bator champion in September

Currently, Kotooshu ranks 6th in the tournament, with 10 wins and 4 losses.

In the last round the Bulgarian will face the Ozeki Harumafuji with 8 wins and 6 losses.

BULGARIA PM BORISOV SCORES TWICE IN ANTI-AIDS CHARITY MATCH

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, scored two goals in a anti-AIDS charity football match in Sofia Sunday.

Borisov led the team of celebrities, including Sports Minister, Svilen Neykov, and Health Minister, Bozhidar Nanev, which beat the team of journalists 4:3.

The journalists had the lead twice with Borisov equalizing twice; then at the beginning of the second half he invited two random guys from the audience to play for his team, with each of them scoring once.

Borisov admitted after the match the journalists’ team had been better, and his wouldn’t have won had it not been for the two young replacements.

The game was organized by the Ministry of Physical Education and Sport, and the Health Ministry with the support of the UN UNAIDS program, and is part of the national anti-AIDS campaign.

BULGARIAN MARITSA IZTOK 2, BULGARGAZ TOP MANAGEMENT CHANGED

The Board of Directors of Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) have announced a reshuffle of the top management of subsidiaries Bulgargaz and Maritsa Iztok 2.

Two new members – Boris Todorov and Georgi Gegov - have been elected to the Board of Directors, along with Dimitar Gogov, who has been until now the CEO of Bulgargaz.

The BEH board have also decided to make changes to the senior management at Maritsa Iztok 2, appointing Jivko Dinchev, Ilko Jeliazkov and Georgi Hristozov as new members. Hristozov was, until now, CEO at Maritsa Iztok (Maritsa East 2).

Two serving members of the board of management of the thermal power plant, Evgeny Stoikov and Georgi Hadjiyski, were removed from their positions.

Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD (BEH EAD) was incorporated on 18.09.2008. It is a shareholding company with 100% state owned participation.

The Holding includes Mini Maritsa Iztok, Maritsa East 2 TPP, Kozloduy NPP, NEK, Electricity System Operator, Bulgargaz, Bulgartransgaz and Bulgartel.

BEH assets amount to BGN 10,7 B, group total revenue for the nine months of 2009 amounted to BGN 3.6 B, and the group employs some 22 000 people.

BULGARIA PM: THERE ARE 'SWEETER' EC PORTFOLIOS

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, stated Saturday that the portfolio of the new Bulgarian EU Commissioner is a good one and important in the area of international policies.

Borisov spoke in response to accusations coming from the Bulgarian socialists and their leader and former PM, Sergey Stanishev, that Bulgaria had been given the second-rate EC portfolio of Commissioner on International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

According to Borisov, the portfolio is an important activity with very serious responsibilities and becomes crucial in time of disasters and emergencies.

“To respond to Stanishev, who left me with a country ranking first in the EU by its corruption does not even make sense and I apologize that I have to offer such primitive explanations over the level of his questions,” Borisov is quoted as saying during the official ceremony to inaugurate Bulgaria’s newest road Banya – Trakiya highway.

The PM jokingly pointed out that if the portfolio was a bad one, the leader of the ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms, (DPS), Ahmed Dogan, would not have given the controversial and now dismantled Bulgarian Ministry of Disasters and Emergency Situations to one of his closest associates – Emel Etem.

“Yes, there are much sweeter portfolios at the EC. But this is what they decided; this is what they gave us. I think they had in mind Jeleva is a Foreign Minister and her diplomatic ties and connections would be very helpful,” Borisov said.

The PM further informed, the Foreign Minister to replace Jeleva would be named after she officially takes office as EU Commissioner.

ACTUAL NUMBER OF HIV-POSITIVE BULGARIANS ESTIMATED AT 4 000

Dr Tonka Varleva, head of Bulgaria’s Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS program, said Sunday that the real number of HIV-positive people in the country was about 4 000.

This figure is according to estimates of the system for scientific assessment of the HIV epidemics, developed by UNAIDS Program.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS data speak of 1 071 confirmed HIV cases in Bulgaria.

Dr. Varleva said a total of 133 new HIV cases were registered in Bulgaria since January 2009, including 102 men and 31 women. Their number for the same period of 2008 was 112.

She announced that 60% of all new HIV cases in the country were in Sofia – 51, and Plovdiv – 20. There are 10 new cases in Varna and 17 in Pazardzhik. 5 other cases have been discovered in the rest of the country.

According to Dr. Varleva, some countries in the region have actual HIV epidemics since their infected people are over 1% of their populations.

She said among the new Bulgarian cases there were one 16- and three 18-year-olds, all of whom did not go to school and were drug addicts. There is also one case of a baby born with HIV by a HIV-positive mother, and of four HIV-positive pregnant women.

Varleva said the Ministry of Health and the HIV prevention program were staging a national information campaign starting December 1, for the sixth year in a row.

In her words, the main ways that HIV is transferred in Bulgaria is among intravenous drug users and sexual intercourse through homo- or bi-sexual men.

44 724 people were tested in the 19 cabinets for free and anonymous HIV testing around the country in 2009 so far, compared to 31 021 for all of 2009. 3019 Bulgarian prisoners were also tested for HIV.

Dr. Varleva said that HIV-positive men in Bulgaria lived an average of 31 years, and HIV-positive women – 32.

33 million people are HIV positive around the world; 3 million get infected every year.

Bulgaria’s Health Minister, Bozhidar Nanev, announced that the Health Ministry was going to provide treatment for all HIV positive persons in Bulgaria in 2010. It is also working ona new package of anti-HIV measures.

Minister Nanev urged everybody to do a AIDS/HIV test, and added that HIV-positive people could still have a very good quality of life with the contemporary medical means of treatment.

On Sunday he formally presented the keys to 15 news cars to the anti-AIDS program and several Bulgarian NGOs working in the field of HIV prevention and treatment.

EC RELEASES FULL LIST OF NEW COMMISSIONER DESIGNATES

The EC released Wednesday the full name list of nominees of the 27 member states for the positions at the new Commission.

EC President Jose Manuel Barroso is said to go ahead with the allocation of the various portfolios, and the hearing at the European Parliament is going to take place in January.

"I am pleased to have received nominations from all Member States. Now it is my job to allocate the right portfolios to the right people. I look forward to present a strong Commission team to the European Parliament," Barroso is quoted as saying.

The full list of nominations is as follows:

Commissioners designate for the next Commission

Austria - Johannes Hahn

Belgium - Karel De Gucht

Bulgaria - Rumiana Jeleva

Cyprus - Androulla Vassiliou

Czech Republic - Štefan Füle

Denmark - Connie Hedegaard

Estonia - Siim Kallas

Finland - Olli Rehn

France - Michel Barnier

Germany - Günther H. Oettinger

Greece - Maria Damanaki

Hungary - László Andor

Ireland - Máire Geoghegan Quinn

Italy - Antonio Tajani

Latvia - Andris Piebalgs

Lithuania - Algirdas Šemeta

Luxembourg - Viviane Reding

Malta - John Dalli

The Netherlands - Neelie Kroes

Poland - Janusz Lewandowski

Romania - Dacian Cioloş

Slovakia - Maroš Šefčovič

Slovenia - Janez Potočnik

Spain - Joaquín Almunia

Sweden - Cecilia Malmström

BULGARIAN ARMY SCRAPS RUSSIAN ARMS, GOES WESTERN

The Bulgarian Army is entering a phase in which it will get rid of its Russian-made weaponry, and will gradually replace it with Western arms.

This has been announced by Valeri Ratchev, head of the cabinet of Defense Minister, Nikolay Mladenov, during a conference on security and defense in the Military Academy in Sofia.

Ratchev said the replacement of Russian arms would start from the small detachments such as the Bulgarian contingents who participate in international missions abroad. However, he did not make it clear whether the Defense Ministry was planning to scrap the AK 47 “Kalashnikov” as well.

In addition to the Russian-made arms, the Bulgarian armed forces also have German transport vehicles, Italian transport planes, Belgian frigates, helicopters from Eurocopter, and several US-made hammer and armed vehicles.

Ratchev said the Defense Ministry was to focus on the economic efficiency of its military orders.

BULGARIA FOREIGN MINISTER IN DC LECTURE: NABUCCO, SOUTH STREAM REMAIN ON PAPER

Foreign Minister, Rumiana Jeleva, has declared Bulgaria was interested in participating in both Nabucco and South Stream gas transit pipelines as part of its energy sources diversification policy.

Jeleva stated this in her lecture at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington DC on Tuesday.

In her words, in reconsidering Bulgaria’s participation in major international energy projects such as the EU-sponsored Nabucco and the Russian South Stream, the new Bulgarian government of the GERB party has focused on looking at the sources of funding and the long-term economic efficiency of the projects.

Jeleva has made it clear that Nabucco is a very “strong” project but that Bulgaria is also interested in the realization of the Russian South Stream pipeline.

She did point out, however, that there was currently no clarity regarding when the construction of Nabucco would start, and that the situation with South Stream was pretty much the same. In her words, both projects are being realized “on paper” only for the time being.

Jeleva believes that any common EU strategy on energy security cannot be discussed by excluding Russia which is the major energy supplier for Europe. But she said other former Soviet republics such as Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan must also be included as very important factors.

WORLD BANK FUNDS BETTER WATER QUALITY IN BULGARIA WITH EUR 81 M

The World Bank has allocated EUR 81 M for the improvement of water quality in four Bulgarian municipalities.

The Municipal Infrastructure Development Project in Bulgaria was approved Tuesday by the World Bank’s Board of Directors. It will aid local authorities across the country in investment-planning for the water sector, and improving the reliability and quality of water provision in four municipalities, the World Bank has announced.

The Municipal Infrastructure Development Project is expected to improve the quality of life of more than 141 000 Bulgarians in the municipalities of Madan, Rudozem, Tryavna, and Panagyurishte.

The measures it will finance include the preparation of 48 regional Master Plans for Water Supply and Sewerage systems (ViK systems), including 40 Master Plans for urban settlements, within six regions, and the completion of construction of three dams that was interrupted about 20 years ago along with the rehabilitation of a fourth dam that is currently operational.

“The citizens of municipalities of Rudozem, Madan, Tryavna, and Panagyuriste in Bulgaria are all looking forward to seeing a significant improvement in the water supply to their communities. The lack of a steady source of quality drinking water as well as water for agricultural use is seen by many as one of the main issues affecting their well-being... The World Bank’s funding for finalizing the construction provides an opportunity for further economic development, including tourism growth,” said Gabriel Ionita, World Bank Senior Agriculture Specialist and Task Team Leader of the project.

“The World Bank and the Government of Bulgaria are currently working closely to identify the Bank’s future support to Bulgaria's key development priorities with the goal of accelerating growth and improving living standards,” World Bank Country Manager for Bulgaria, Florian Fichtl, is quoted as saying.

BULGARIA CUSTOMS AUDIT FINDS LUKOIL IN BGN 12 M OF VAT VIOLATIONS

The audit of the refinery of the Russian Lukoil in Bulgaria's Black Sea city of Burgas established the company failed to pay over BGN 3 M in VAT for 2007 and 2008.

The information was reported Wednesday by the Head of the Bulgarian Customs Agency, General Vanio Tanov, who said the violations stem from the fact the company paid the Value Added Tax (VAT) on the real crude oil supplies, but they were lower than what the invoices register.

The Customs Head further explained that the same problem was established by the audit for the 2009 tax year, leading to unpaid VAT on the part of Lukoil in the amount of BGN 12 M, the Bulgarian daily Dnevnik reports.

Tanov also said the company had agreed to repay the BGN 3 M regardless of the fact they will give tax money for oil they did not receive while, according to the General, Lukoil failed to make inquiries to the Russian supplier that is the culprit for the financial damages.

Dnevnik quotes Lukoil as saying they will not issue an official statement before seeing the details of the audit.

BULGARIA GOVERNMENT VOWS TO MAKE ALL DELAYED PAYMENTS TO BUSINESSES

Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, announced Wednesday that the government was going to initiate paying all delayed payments of sums it owed to businesses starting December 1, 2009.

This is how Borisov responded to recent sharp criticism on part of President Georgi Parvanov, the opposition Socialist Party, and trade unions that the delay of payments of the government to firms which had completed or had been working on public projects was very big, and was going to cause company bankruptcies and new mass-scale layoffs.

President Parvanov has stated that the total amount of delayed payments owed to companies had already reached about 1%-1,5% of the GDP.

“I accept those estimates and comments with the slight remark that all those payments should have been done by the previous government. We are mustering all of our income in order to start paying out the companies. Delay of payments means not having paying for the cleaning of last year’s snow,” PM Borisov said, reminding the blatant, in his words, case in which the Stanishev government had delayed a payment of BGN 132 M for snow cleaning services for the winter of 2008/2009.

Borisov explained that all sums due to private businesses were to be paid in December 2009, and in January-February 2010. In his words, this process will start with the construction companies since Bulgaria’s construction sector has been hit especially hard by the economic crisis and has started to lay off dozens of thousands of workers.

A meeting of the government and the Construction Chamber has been scheduled for Friday, November 27, 2009, in order to discuss those issues. This is seen as an emergency measure demanded by the leading construction companies and the chamber on part of the Bulgarian state.

BGN 20 000 STOLEN IN BULGARIA CURRENCY EXCHANGE ROBBERY

BGN 20 000 were stolen in an armed robbery at a currency exchange in the southern Bulgarian border town of Svilengrad.

The raid happened at 4:50 am Thursday as two armed men broke in a local currency exchange using a metal pipe, and threatened the cashier.

The 23-year-old woman was so shocked she failed to press the panic button in order to alert the police. The case is under investigation.

BULGARIA POLICE COME ACROSS "FORGOTTEN" MAFIA BOSS WANTED IN FRANCE

The Court of the southern Bulgarian District of Haskovo has issued an order for the permanent detention of Deniz Turkmen who is the brother-in-law of “legendary” Bulgarian mafia boss of Syrian origin, Filip Naydenov, aka Fatik.

Filip Naydenov – Fatik was was killed in an AK-47 raid on a central boulevard in Sofia in 2003.

Deniz Turkmen was arrested in the southern Bulgarian town of Svilengrad while he was on a train entering Bulgaria from Turkey on Sunday according to a European Arrest Warrant issued by the District Court of Marseille, France.

Turkmen is wanted by the French authorities over frauds, and is also wanted by INTERPOL. He is believed to have been the head of an organized crime group involved in the trafficking of stolen luxury cars, including three cases in which Bentley cars were rented, their documents were forged, and they were exported and sold in Turkey.

Upon his arrest, Turkmen presented an Irish passport on the name of Dimo Tshondiya. He told the police he came to Bulgaria because he wanted to see his children.

Turkmen was deported from Bulgaria in 2001 as a threat for the country’s national security, and was banned from entering it again. Turkmen is alleged to have been involved in illegal arms and drug tracking in Bulgaria.

He is the brother-in-law of Filip Naydenov – Fatik, and the son-in-law of Fatik’s father, Ismet Shaban. Ismet Shaban is known to have come to Bulgaria in the 1960s with his family and to have helped the so called “State Securty”, the secret police and intelligence of communist Bulgaria, to set up channels for the trafficking of Captagon pills, drugs, and arms to countries in the Arab world. This was part of the “secret trade” of the Bulgarian communist regime.

As a result, Shaban’s family enjoyed a number of privileges in communist Bulgaria. After the end of the communist regime, Shaban’s son, who took the Bulgarian name of Filip Naydenov, is said to have inherited his father, and much of the already “privatized” secret trade of the former communist regime, and to have been involved in dealings with all major organized crime groups in the country. He was brutally murdered on the Gotse Delchev Blvd in downtown Sofia in 2003 by AK 47 Kalashnikov shooters.

Fatik’s brother-in-law, Deniz Turkmen, is going to remain in the arrest until the Haskovo Court rules on the request for his extradition to France.