Witnesses in ex-PM Petkov's trial recount Borissov's 2022 arrest
Bulgaria's security service chief testified there was talk in the prime minister's office of finding "bags of money." Petkov is charged with abuse of power; the next hearing is Dec. 7.
Archive image · Photo: Government of Bulgaria / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Two key witnesses testified Tuesday at the Sofia City Court in the trial of former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov. Prosecutors accuse Petkov of exceeding his authority on March 17, 2022, by instructing police officers to detain GERB leader Boyko Borissov, former Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov and party spokeswoman Sevdalina Arnaudova. Petkov, who was indicted in February 2025, is presumed innocent until a final verdict.
Gen. Emil Tonev, head of the National Protection Service, said he was summoned to the prime minister's office, where he learned of the planned arrest. He testified that there was talk that "bags of money" had to be found when Borissov's home was searched. Tonev said then-Deputy Prime Minister Assen Vassilev insisted on handcuffs and that he did not recall Petkov making such a demand.
Former Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Petar Todorov, now a lawmaker for Progressive Bulgaria, said he had been excluded from preparing the operation. He said it relied on a file from the BOEC civic movement that contained only newspaper clippings. According to Boulevard Bulgaria, the court admitted further witnesses, including Vassilev, former Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov, Plamen Tonchev and Petar Petrov. Outside the courtroom, Todorov linked the case to the presidential runoff. The next hearing is set for Dec. 7.