The court classified a defamation case filed by Sotir Tsatsarov against a former minister

On February 1, 2023, the Sofia District Court issued a ruling classifying the “defamation” case filed by Sotir Tsatsarov against former Defense Minister Boyko Noev. In early 2022. Tsatsarov brought this case because of a series of interviews in which Noev systematically and consistently claimed several things:

1. Tsatsarov sabotages investigations into the mysterious
   bombings
   of military factories and sites in Bulgaria over the past decade
2. Tsatsarov sabotages the investigation into the poisoning of arms dealer Gebrev, his son and the commercial director of Emko
3. Tsatsarov appears conductor of Russian interests in Bulgaria through his warm relationship with the Russian Prosecutor General/ Chief Prosecutor/ Yuri Chaika

As in the case against Kiril Petkov, the former Bulgarian Prosecutor General claims that these allegations undermine his prestige, cause him discomfort, suffering, etc. So far so good, as they say. To date, a year later, the court has finally scheduled the trial – for the end of April 2023. Wake up perplexity, however, some of Judge Angelova’s motives in the announced draft report on the case.

Full secrecy

First and foremost, the judge held that the case should be heard under in camerabecause “
there is a risk that classified information may be disclosed in the course of the proceedings
“. This is accepted in view of Noyev’s statements, which according to the judge attribute crimes committed by Tsatsarov – specifically, crimes against justice (and not only). Such classified information could also come into the case from our Western allies, by the way, in view of the nature of the actions of the Russian subversive groups on Bulgarian territory – actions that the Tsatsar’s prosecution for 7 years blissfully and completely slept. Or in respect of which – at best – “very successfully make’em mad“. Suffice it to recall Tsatsarov’s Claims About arugula with pesticides and spoiled coffee.

Only that in our opinion an originally hypothetical possibility for the application of classified material in the case is not a reason to classify the entire proceedings. On the contrary – only those documents and meetings that (if) necessary can be classified. By comparison, this was the approach adopted by the court in the case of Tsatsarov v. Kiril Petkov, where (so far) it was classified only one session out of three. By the way, the complete and disproportionate secrecy has been a trademark of the SAC (Court of Miracles) since time immemorial. In our observation, the only reason (for example) to classify a case against SCSI from 2017 is the mention of the name of a SANS agent in a document in the case. Decide for yourself whether this is proportionate and meaningful. Another example we recently recalled was the classified case Cholakov/Bozhursky и pronouncing of the Strasbourg Court.

What’s going on with the investigations

But let’s go back to Sofia District Court. Boyko Noev, in turn, makes a number of evidentiary requests, which are yet to be seen whether the court will grant. For example, he wants to admit six(!) witnesses who apparently have to share interesting factoid. Next, it seeks the issuance of judicial certificates to provide it with information on the current status of various investigations into Russian GRU subversion in the country. We would also very much like to know what is going on with these investigations, but for some time now Geshev/Tsatsarov have stopped giving any information and deflecting questions on the subject. In an attempt to at least somewhat fill this “hole of silence“, we will take the liberty of sharing with the public the little we have found from our sources.

First of all, the investigation of the terrorist act against Gebrev and the other two from Emko is getting nowhere. Recently there is a prosecutor “working” Zoya Mananska, but the case seems no closer to trial than it was 3 years ago – when of the Kuma shame gesture accused three GRU colonels for the attack. The prosecutor’s office half-mouthedly explained at the time that there was no way the charges could become an indictment until Russia extradited the three – which obviously will never happen. At the same time, there was no obstacle 6 years ago the case against the equally missing Tsvetan Vassilev to enter the judicial phase. Did someone say “double standard”?! We say.

At the same time, there is evidence in the case that the Russian “scouts” also had corpulent (say) Bulgarian helpers – data which, however, prosecutor Mananska persistently ignores… in view of the instructions “from above” on the Bulgarian trail “not to work“. As icing on the cake, the prosecutor’s office has hidden the file number from its website so that no one can find out if it is moving at all. It is theoretically possible that the investigation is already closed and the Russian colonels are no longer defendants – but there’s no way to know since the file is hidden. Convenient, isn’t it?! In fact, the case has already been stayed once – but by an order of September 2020, the SCC lift the suspension and directs the prosecution to continue its work. Since then, silence.

Secondly, we will point out “
the explosion of the pentacle
” 11 years ago, which cost the lives of three Bulgarian citizens and caused colossal material damage. This is perhaps the first known case of suspected GRU sabotage that and to this day no permission. Our research has shown that the prosecutor’s office has filed an indictment against three people for “negligence” only – and it has filed it in… Yambol District Court. The case there has been slowly cycling for six years now, with the last one scheduled for the end of the month. Why the case is only for “crime against public health and the environment” (the exact legal qualification is under Article 349 of the Criminal Code) – the devil knows. Why other versions have not been investigated – again no one knows. Except probably Sotir – and Ivan.

The Unbreakable Bulgarian-Soviet-Prosecutor Friendship

To date, Bulgaria is almost the only country in the EU (the other is Orban’s Hungary) that has agreement cooperation with the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office. Hungary is already considering terminating its agreement in view of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but there is no such sentiment in Bulgaria. Why not – because it depends solely and exclusively by the individual Ivan Geshevalbeit in his capacity as (still) Attorney General. Apparently there is a “loophole” in our legal framework that allows the Attorney General to enter into such agreements without veto possibility by any other government body, and with no subsequent opportunity from anyone (not even the President) to override them. The fact that Geshev refuses to end this shameful agreement is hardly surprising – we need only remember the warm and welcoming welcome of the sanctioned Prosecutor General Chaika in Bulgaria (elsewhere in the EU he dare not go), as well as the abundant photographic material on which We saw Gull shoulder-to-shoulder with his happy battle comrade Tsatsarov – and Borisov. Geshev also met with Chaika at that time, although this is not photo-documented. Duly documented, however, was the response visit of Geshev in the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office. What did he say to Chaika and what commitments it has made – remains a mystery to this day. How this ties in with his actively proclaimed Euro-Atlanticism in recent times – remains an even bigger mystery. We personally can think of a medical term that somewhat explains things: cyclic schizophrenia. We can not yet assess whether it is more pronounced in Geshev or in Borisov, but perhaps someone expert psychiatristwho read this material could give an answer. Either way, we think it’s long past time these two to be dealt with by medical science, at least at first. In order to be able to then take them up and prison specialists. God speed, as they say. However, the patience of Bai Stavri is proverbial – but not limitless.

Leading photo (from left to right).

***

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