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PHOTO: KPKONPI
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To confiscate illegally acquired property in the total amount of BGN 25,265,915.32, to establish a conflict of interest with regard to the former Executive Director of the Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture / NAFA / Galin Nikolov, to initiate proceedings for a conflict of interests in relation to the Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Toma Belev and the former management of Kozloduy NPP – the Executive Director Nasko Mihov and his Deputy Alexander Nikolov.
This was decided by the Anti-Corruption Commission (CCAC) at its regular meeting today as lawsuits in the district courts in the country.
At the same meeting, a decision was adopted to make recommendations in the texts of the draft Law on Collection of Receivables from Consumer Contracts, submitted by the Council of Ministers.
Two lawsuits have been filed in the Sofia City Court – one against Georgi Popov and worth a total of BGN 19,147,186.25. He is accused by the prosecutor’s office of participating in an organized criminal group led by Vasil Bozhkov. 17 real estates are also claimed, as well as three motor vehicles.
The second claim is against Nikolay Bardar in the total amount of BGN 5,679,012.27, which includes the value of 7 real estates and 2 motor vehicles. He is accused by the prosecutor’s office of embezzlement on a particularly large scale. 3 claims are filed in the District Court – Plovdiv, and in the District Court – Sliven – one.
With regard to Galin Nikolov, former Executive Director of NAFA, a conflict of interest was established due to the fact that on 07.08.2020 he exercised powers in the private interest of a person related to him. He proposed and appointed his wife’s brother to a higher position and, accordingly, with a higher monthly salary. In this case, Nikolov should have resigned from his specific official powers. He was fined BGN 5,000.
KPKONPI initiates proceedings for conflict of interest against Toma Belev, Deputy Minister of Environment and Water. The reason was a signal, according to which he is chairman of the Board of the Association “Parks Association in Bulgaria”.
In accordance with its legal powers, the Commission shall verify signals concerning declarations of incompatibility of senior public officials and refer the matter to the selection or appointment body to take the necessary action.
Conflict of interest proceedings have also been instituted against the management of Kozloduy NPP – Nasko Mihov, Executive Director, and Alexander Nikolov, Deputy Executive Director. A signal has been received, which contains allegations of improper benefit – concluding contracts with companies indirectly related to them.
According to LCONPI, a conflict of interest arises when a person holding a senior public office has a private interest that may affect the impartial and objective performance of his powers or duties. Following the initiation of the proceedings, the Commission shall request and receive the necessary information and documents, and shall issue a reasoned written decision within two months, which may be extended once for up to 30 days.
The decisions of KPKONPI for establishing a conflict of interest are not final and are subject to appeal or protest under the APC. The establishment of a conflict of interest with an effective decision is grounds for dismissal, unless otherwise provided by the Constitution. For the person mentioned above – Galin Nikolov, the adopted decision of KPKONPI has not entered into force.
For Toma Belev, Nasko Mihov and Alexander Nikolov, a conflict of interest has not been established with the fact of initiating proceedings – it is alleged in received signals, and its presence or absence is subject to establishment in the manner prescribed by law, said Tsatsarov Commission.
With regard to the draft law on collection of receivables under consumer contracts, KPKONPI makes a recommendation to the petitioner to include detailed regulation of registration and criteria for the activities of companies for collection of receivables. This regulation should not be contained in a bylaw – as provided – with the adoption of an Ordinance by the Council of Ministers within two months, but should be enshrined in the law itself. Otherwise, preconditions are created for interpretation, and hence for manifestations of corrupt behavior, given the importance of these public relations, the Commission decision states.
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