Apartmentgate
A joint investigation by ACF and Radio Free Europe revealed that several influential politicians and high-level public officials had acquired luxury properties at prices significantly below market rates. In addition, the transactions were highly unusual compared to standard business practices.
The investigation generated high levels of public interest and lead to multiple resignations – of the Minister of Justice, Tzetzka Tzacheva, the Deputy Minister of Sport, Vania Koleva, the Deputy Minister of Energy, Krasimir Parvanov, and Tzvetan Tzvetanov, who left the post Chairman of the parliamentary group of the ruling party GERB in March, and in May left all executive-level positions within the party itself.
Following the investigation, a number of media outlets used the Bulgarian Property Register (the main method employed by ACF and Radio Free Europe) to carry out property checks regarding other public officials. A new wave of resignations followed, while the ethical and legal issues raised by Apartmentgate were discussed within the European Parliament elections campaign in May.
ACF filed reports with the National Revenue Agency (NRA) and the Public Prosecution (subsequently the prosecution asked the Commission for Anti-Corruption and the Forfeiture of Illegally Acquired Property(CAFIAP) to initiate proceedings). CAFIAP ended the proceedings on 19 June, deciding no wrongdoing had occurred. ACF calls on all involved public institutions will act in a responsible and impartial manner.
Press releases
The Anti-Corruption Commission and the Apartmentgate Scandal: Formalism, Inconsistencies, and Concerns of Institutional Dependency
Bulgarian Politicians Acquire Luxury Properties on the Cheap
Property Swaps Between Construction Firm and High-Ranking Politician Raise Suspicions about Fictitious Prices
First publication of AFC's findings
Tsetska Tsacheva and Vanya Koleva resign
Krasimir Parvanov resigns
Tsvetan Tsvetanov leaves Parliament
The Public Prosecution announces probe into Plamen Georgiev
ACF filed report with two parliamentary committees against Plamen Georgiev
The reports were filed with the Committee on Anti-Corruption, Conflict of Interests and Parliamentary Ethics and the Committee on Interaction with Non-Governmental Organizations and the Complaints of Citizens.
ACF filed reports with NRА regrding Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Tsetska Tsacheva, Vanya Koleva, Veselin Bozhkov, Krasimir Parvanov, Vezhdi Rashidov and Plamen Georgiev
Delyan Dobrev, member of GERB political party and head of the Parliament Energy Commission, resigns
Tommy Nikolov, Deputy Governor of Sofia, resigns
Aleksandar Manolev, Deputy Minister of Economy, resigns
Rumen Porozhanov, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forests, resigns
The National Revenue Agency announced tax investigations, following ACF's report
CAFIAP ends conflict of interest proceedings
CAFIAP decided that none of the implicated officials had committed any wrongdoing. No charges have been pressed, nor were other public institutions notified for further investigation. The decision falls in line with a pre-existing trend of formalistic and superficial investigations by the Commission and deepens suspicions of political dependency of this public body.
Vladi Kalinow, head of the Construction Supervision Department in Sofia Municipality, resigns
The head of the municipality's Construction Supervisions Department resigned because of a controversial decision from 12 June concerning the missing construction permits for structures on the terrace of the CAFIAP chairman, Plamen Georgiev.
