The Appellate Prosecutor’s Office in Varna has initiated pre-trial proceedings against Mayor of Varna Ivan Portnih for a crime of office, said Stela Nikolova, a member of the leadership of „Yes Bulgaria“ and MP from „We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria“.
The investigation is due to his inaction in returning the shares of the Plovdiv fair to the state. The pre-trial proceedings are under 282, para. 2 in connection with para. 1 of the Criminal Code. It provides for a prison sentence of 1 to 8 years for a person who violates or fails to fulfill his official duties, or exceeds their authority or rights in order to obtain a benefit, resulting in significant harmful consequences.
In 2017, the Municipal Council in Varna voted to return the shares of „Plovdiv Fair“ JSC to the Ministry of Economy. This never happened, which allowed businessman Georgi Gergov to start a procedure for the final takeover of the company.
Former municipal councilor from Varna, Stela Nikolova, has been fighting for the implementation of the Municipal Council’s decision for years. Back in December 2021, she filed a report with the Prosecutor’s Office that Mayor Portnih did not implement the decision from 2017, and the Municipal Council did not elect a representative in the general assembly of „Plovdiv Fair“ for 5 years. This may cause harm, as there is no one to protect his interests in the general assembly of „Plovdiv Fair“ JSC.
„This gives hope that in the end Mayor Portnih’s inaction in favour of Georgi Gergov’s interests at the expense of the municipality and the state will be punished. Mr. Portnih and the majority in the Municipal Council of GERB can take action tomorrow by submitting an item on the agenda of the session of the general assembly for the return of the shares of the company to the state and thus alleviate the situation of Mr. Portnih in relation to this pre-trial proceedings, and restore the public interest and preserve the Plovdiv Fair for all Bulgarians,“, Stela Nikolova said. She pointed out:
„I call on Boyko Borissov, if he has not given up on this GERB mayor, to stop being silent and order his municipal councilors to return the shares of the Plovdiv Fair to the Ministry of Economy.“
For the past 4 years, Stela Nikolova has been fighting with the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office, the Varna District Prosecutor’s Office and the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office. She filed an appeal against the refusal of the Varna District Prosecutor’s Office and requested the file of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office, which the District Prosecutor’s Office referred to for its refusal. Eventually, the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office sent the file to the Varna Appellate Prosecutor’s Office and they initiated pre-trial proceedings for a crime of office.
