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Businessman Vasil Bozhkov, who is in the United Arab Emirates, shared on his Facebook page on Friday morning (May 15) two text messages about that he allegedly did with a person recorded on his phone as Vladi Goranov (Probably the Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov). If they are authentic, one of the things that impresses is that in January of this year (when the inspections of the prosecutor’s office and the inspection in the gaming commission are already underway) Bozhkov was not concerned about his business, but continued negotiating with the Minister of Finance, who promises assistance.
Are the text messages with Minister Goranov?
The first text call (according to the photos) is from February 24, 2018. The second call was made on January 15 (probably this year). According to his notes, people referred to as “the girl” and “Sasho” have been two of the presidents of the gaming commission in recent years. The announcements were published with a brief announcement from Bozhkov: “A few days ago I said that I had contacted Vladi Goranov about my gaming business, and not the State Gaming Committee (State Gaming Commission). This is how it happened.”
In December last year, Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov announced for the first time that he had commissioned an inspection by the Gaming Commission after receiving a signal that it had benefited one of the companies he regulated with millions of cams. defaults to the state.
The second conversation took place a few days after the action of the prosecution specialized in the State Gambling Commission, which took place on January 22. Just over a week later, Bozhkov received his first charges on January 30 of this year. There is nothing in the content of the talks that shows that Bozhkov was concerned about his business.
Who is mentioned in the conversations?
According to Bozhkov’s own explanations for the messages exchanged, the “girl” is Maria Filipova, the predecessor of Alexander Georgiev, chairman of the SCG since February 8, 2018, currently vice chairman of the Financial Oversight Commission.
In their conversations, “Sasho” called Bozhkov Alexander Georgiev, president of the SCG from April 25, 2019 to February 2020; Deputy Director of the National Revenue Agency from May 2017 to April 2019
On February 1, Alexander Georgiev was charged with a misdemeanor and reportedly made full confessions, claiming to have sponsored the Bozhkov gambling business. There was no official confirmation from the prosecutor’s office for such confessions.
The publication of the communication between Bozhkov and the man registered on his phone as Vladi Goranov comes two days after Bozhkov put Prime Minister Boyko Borisov in a difficult situation after his partner Georgi Popov endorsed Levski’s actions on behalf of the Prime Minister. He refused (during his RP) to accept them, but has not yet publicly commented on the matter.
On Thursday night, the Nove Holding office announced that Bozhkov would present “evidence” on Friday morning, which is part of a signal to the institutions. And they announced that this will happen on a Facebook page, apparently this will be the channel through which the accused businessman will speak from Dubai. He says, “This is Vasil Bozhkov’s personal page, where I will uncensoredly share the truth about organized crime and extortion by the government.”
Vasil Bozhkov has been charged with 11 charges (one for an organized crime group operating since 2014) and there are several investigations underway (for rape, murder and coercion), and authorities requested his extradition from the United Arab Emirates in February.
Bozhkov promised a signal a week ago
A week ago, in his first interview after three months of silence, the accused businessman announced that he had communicated about his betting business only with the Minister of Finance, Vladislav Goranov, who did not admit him to the betting commission but rather introduced its presidents. Then he said he would report it to the prosecutor’s office and all the institutions, without clarifying why.
But his threat came in the context of the issue of Goranov’s role and the law on gambling.
“If he knew that the tax laws were being passed and rejected, he should resign. If he did not know, he should resign again. Wouldn’t Goranov deny that he has met with me many times,” Bozhkov said.
In a conversation with BTV, Bozhkov repeatedly hinted that the Prime Minister and Finance Minister could not ignore a project proposed by GERB and endorsed by the ruling party in late 2014. These are changes to the Gambling Law (Goranov is found between depositors) who enter two rates: pay 15% of the bets collected or 20% of the commissions collected (bets minus the prizes paid). Due to this text, Bozhkov companies are now under investigation for saving approximately BGN 700 million in taxes in 5 years because they paid under the second option. Their version is that the law allows it and they acted accordingly. Goranov’s defense is that he did not know it, and the “mistake” was made thanks to members of the gaming commission and Bozhkov’s companies.
After the interview last Friday, Prime Minister Borissov reacted that he knew about such meetings, but Goranov “should explain himself.” Goranov gave an extraordinary briefing in parliament and confirmed that he had met with Bozhkov, as well as other successful business entrepreneurs. The talks were about changes to the Gambling Law, which, however, were not approved by GERB. He said he saw no reason to resign.
On the page created on Facebook, through which Bozhkov will obviously disseminate information, the BTV interview was uploaded, with an emphasis on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance. “Why is GERB still lying that they did not adopt the amendments to the Gambling Law? Can the leader of a political force not know when his political force adopts and rejects a law? Can Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov not know when adopts and rejects a tax law, “the publication reads.
Last week, Nove Holding’s office also distributed a report on how deputies voted for the amendment..
The first reactions after the published conversations.
“First, Goranov said the meetings were for business. Second, more importantly, since the beginning of this saga, we, the parliamentary group MRF, have decided not to comment and have nothing to do. It depends on the judiciary and the executive “MRF MP Yordan Tsonev said in the Nova TV studio, when asked to comment on the broadcast messages.
He explained that his party did not comment because it diverted attention from the main problems of society: “This saga is not a major problem in society. There are organizations that deal with it.”
When and what charges were brought against Bozhkov: read here and here
About the investigation against him, for which there is still not enough evidence – here
