The case for the arrest of GERB leader Boyko Borisov, the party's PR Sevdelina Arnaudova and the finance minister in two of Borisov's governments - Vladislav Goranov, in March 2022, begins in substance on June 10.
The defendant who ordered their detention without having the authority to do so is the prime minister at the time - Kiril Petkov.
Today was the pre-trial hearing in the case.
Petkov's defense - lawyer Daniela Dokovska, requested that the case be returned to the prosecutor's office due to significant procedural violations that violated his rights. The court did not agree and so on June 10 the first witnesses will be questioned. It is from the interrogation of witnesses plus video recordings that prosecutor Angel Kanev intends to prove that Kiril Petkov illegally ordered the arrest of the then opposition leader Borisov: "The defendant Kiril Petkov exceeded his authority. He ordered actions that were beyond his competence. I am absolutely aware that he was Prime Minister and that this is the highest state position. However, this did not give him the authority, as well as any Prime Minister currently under the current regulatory framework, to order such actions, which are solely within the powers of the investigative bodies that have competence for this".
Kanev specified that Borisov has not been questioned so far, but most likely this will happen within the framework of the case. When asked why only Kiril Petkov is on trial, and not the Minister of the Interior in 2022. - Boyko Rashkov, as well as the police officers who arrested Borisov, Goranov and Arnaudova, Angel Kanev explained that there was another file for the police officers in the Sofia District Prosecutor's Office, but he knew what her fate was, and for Rashkov - that there was no evidence that he issued direct orders for the detentions of the three, BNR reported.
After it became clear that the case would begin on the merits, Kiril Petkov declared his innocence, but refused to comment on the accusation for the illegal arrests of Boyko Borisov, Vladislav Goranov and Sevdelina Arnaudova:"Because I do not trust the prosecutor's office, I trust the Bulgarian court. As I said, I did not break the law and I stand behind my own actions, they were within the framework of the law". According to the co-chairman of "We Continue the Change", there are two types of politicians in Bulgaria - those who are afraid of the Bulgarian court, and those who are not afraid. According to him, those who fear the court are dependent on foreign interests, while those who are not afraid are independent.