16.11.2009 by CrniLabudovi.

Former Bulgarian cabinet ministers face criminal charges

16/11/2009

Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev is being investigated in connection with leaked classified information, while a member of his cabinet is probed for criminal breach of trust and another has already been indicted on charges of abuse of power.

(Various sources — 08/09/09 - 09/11/09)

Prosecutors in Bulgaria have launched probes against several former ministers and heads of state agencies over their alleged involvement in corruption, embezzlement or other wrongdoings.

The highest-ranking among them is the leader of the main opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and former Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev. On November 3rd, Chief Prosecutor Boris Velchev asked parliament to lift Stanishev’s immunity, so that he can be investigated in connection with a missing classified report handed to him last year.

“Stanishev will be probed for losing documents and materials containing information which was state secret,” as well as for having “due to carelessness, become the reason for the disclosure of information constituting state secret,” Velchev’s office said in a statement.

The document in question was a memo prepared by the State National Security Agency (DANS) on the “actions of individual and circles exercising a destructive influence on the functioning of ministries and public administration structures”.

The scandal erupted last month when incumbent Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said that former DANS agent Alexey Petrov gave him the missing report. In line with the rules on handling classified information, Stanishev should have returned the document to a special department at the council of ministers, but failed to do so. It was unclear how Petrov, who served as advisor to former DANS head Petko Sertov, got hold of the memo.

Shortly after, the classified report was published on the Internet.

Claiming he had returned the report to the security agency, the former prime minister denied any wrongdoing, but said he would voluntarily give up his immunity from prosecution. According to Sofia city prosecutor Nikolay Kokinov, a person close to Stanishev, who acted as an intermediary, would also be investigated in connection with the case.

Borisov then told the media that the total number of top secret documents his predecessor had failed to handle in line with the established procedures was 11, among them one on contraband channels and another on Russia’s growing energy influence.

The move against Stanishev prompted harsh criticism from President Georgi Parvanov, who jumped in to defend his successor as BSP leader. He said the government would sue the former prime minister over “a misplaced file,” while it did nothing to catch gangland bosses.

“Why doesn’t the government act as swiftly in combating the bosses of organised crime, who have turned into one of the symbols of the Bulgarian transition,” Parvanov said on November 9th. “I can’t shake off the feeling that the big mafia bosses are still untouchable.”

Borisov responded immediately. He reminded the president that there were 11 missing reports, not one, that shed light on the criminal circles impeding the functioning of the state and urged him not to interfere in the prosecution’s work.

“We follow the natural path of logic: we will catch the big sharks first and then we will go after the small fry,” Sofia-based Standart daily quoted Borisov as saying. “Had we started with the bosses, we would have admitted that Bulgaria was run by the heads of organised crime and not by the [previous, BSP-led] three-way coalition. Isn’t that right?”

If Stanishev is found guilty, he could face a prison sentence of up to three years.

……………………

Setimes

Nur wo es stinkt, waren Schröder, Joschka Fischer, Verheugen und die anderen Kriminellen aus Georg Soros Bande immer ganz Vorne weg. Man macht halt so seine Lobby Geschäfte und Null Aussenpolitik.

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16.11.2009 by HoisseBig.

Cigarette Smuggling Case Discussed in January

Belgrade | 12 November 2009 | Bojana Barlovac

Map of Montenegro

A decision on possible court proceedings against a group of nationals from Montenegro, Italy and Serbia on their alleged involvement in an international cigarettes smuggling ring will be discussed in January, a court in Bari, Italy, decided.According to local media, the decision on possible court proceedings will be determined on 18 January.

They are accused of being involved in cigarette smuggling between 1994 and 2000, and the list includes seven Italians, five Montenegrins and two Serbs, broadcaster RTS reports.

The trial began in November 2001. The Prosecutor of Bari’s court, Giuseppe Scelsi, included Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic in the investigation due to his alleged role in the smuggling.

“For almost a decade, Montenegro has been a haven for illegal trafficking, where criminals acted with impunity, while the ports of Bar and Kotor were used as logistics bases for motor boats, with protection which was guaranteed by the government,” the court’s document says.

Djukanovic was in Bari last year answering questions from the prosecution. Soon after that, the case in relation to him was archived.

In a series of interviews with journalists, held in August, the prime minister’s former ally, Ratko Knezevic, said that tobacco smuggling grew once Djukanovic took power in Montenegro in 1997, referring to Djukanovic as the “cartel boss”.

By 1999-2000 the illicit trade was worth several billion dollars annually, according to EU and US agencies. Djukanovic struck back against these allegations, stressing that no proof has been presented since local media started reporting on his alleged involvement in mafia tobacco trading.

Scelsi told Podgorica daily Dan two weeks ago that Djukanovic could be tried for his alleged involvement in cigarette smuggling once he leaves politics.

“Milo Djukanovic is being protected by immunity while he is the prime minister and chief of state. …….

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/23618/

Actually, the cigarette business declined rapidly after the end of the 1990s. A 2006 Situation Report on Organised and Economic Crime in South-eastern Europe by the Council of Europe states in its Montenegro chapter:

“Smuggling of legal goods (cigarettes, oil and oil derivates) has been significantly diminished since the abolition of sanctions and law enforcement efforts since 2000. The smuggling practices have been changed to adjust to new conditions and still manage to resist law enforcement efforts while integrating into European and global smuggling flows and distributions of illegally and legally produced cigarettes. Smuggling channels from Montenegro were mainly intercepted but new routes have been formed going via Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Romania and the ‘former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’.” (p. 96)

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16.11.2009 by HoisseBig.

BALKANWEB.TV Greqi, policia: Alket Rizai u arrestua në gjumë

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Greqi, policia: Alket Rizai u arrestua në gjumë
Nga: SUELA GERA	ATHINE - Alket Rizai, shqiptari, i cili në fillim të këtij viti u arratis në mënyrë spektakolare, si në filmat hollivudianë, nga burgu i sigurisë së lartë të Koridhalosit në Athinë është arrestuar sot në mëngjes teksa flinte në një banesë në një fshat afër Athinës. I gjithë operacioni policor ka “habitur” shqiptarin i cili për dy herë radhazi arriti t’i vënte në vështirësi autoritetet greke duke u arratisur dy herë nga burgu me helikopter. “Ai nuk pati kohë as të përdorte pistoletën e tij apo granadën e dorës” ka thënë një zyrtar i policisë, citon agjencia e lajmeve Reuters. Gjatë operacionit në pranga kanë përfunduar dhe tre persona të tjerë të dyshuar si bashkëpunëtor. - Alket Rizai, i cili vuante dënimin për vrasje në burgun e sigurisë së lartë Koridhalosit të Athinës arriti të arratisej në mënyrë spektakolare me një helikopter së bashku Vasilis Paliokostas, të dënuar për grabitje banke. Arratisja ndodhi më 22 shkurt 2009 dhe shkaktoi furtunë në administratën e burgjeve. 43 vjeçari Vasilis Paliokostas një prej krimineleve më të njohur në Greqi ende nuk është arrestuar. Me 22 shkurt 2009, autorietet e policise kishin gjetur helikopterin te braktisur në periferi të Athinës, ndërsa piloti u gjet i lidhur dhe sytë te mbyllur me fasho. Në dëshminë e tij në polici kishte thënë se helikopteri ishte kërkuar nga një cift i cili kishte deklaruar se do të bënin një shëtitje. Helikopteri ishte marrë me qera nga cifti disa herë para se të ndodhte arratisja. Për ngjarjen e ndodhur, gjykata dënoi me burg dy nga pesë gardianët e burgut Koridhalos të Athinës. Shefi i gardianëve u dënua me tre vite burg dhe gardiani i shërbimit me gjashtë muaj burg. Kjo ishte hera e dytë që dy të dënuarit kishin arritur të arratiseshin nga burgu i sigurisë së lartë Koridhalosit. Herën e parë kishin arritur të largoheshin nga burgu i Koridhalosit në qershor të vitit 2006. Helikopteri që ishte ulur në ambjentet u burgut arriti të mashtronte rojet të cilët mendonin se kishte ardhur një inspketor i burgjeve. Me ndihmën e gazlotsjellësit të dy arritën të largoheshin të qetë. Të dy ishin arrestuar në gusht të 2008, për të arritur të shpëtonin sërish në shkurt të 2009. (/balkanWeb)

Rikapet Rizai, u arratis në shkurt me helikopter nga burgu i Athinës
Shekulli Online | 16/11/2009

http://www.shekulli.com.al

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