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26 Sep 2011, Issue 3219
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Russian tourists will not stop visiting Bulgaria in spite of the crises in the recent weeks, in which thousands of them were stranded at Bulgarian Black Sea airports, according to Grigory Sarishvili, deputy head of the Russian Federal Tourism Agency. | read | |
The police are to blame for failing to prevent the clashes in the village of Katunitsa near Plovdiv in the past couple of days which threaten to escalate into an ethnic conflict, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov declared. | read | |
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| · Forum · Tourism · Diplomacy · Domestic · Presidental & Local Elections 2011 · Society · Sports · Crime · Views on BG · World | ||||||
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BULGARIA'S LARGEST ROMA QUARTER UP IN ARMS AS TENSIONS IN PLOVDIV ESCALATE
The Roma living in the Stolipinovo quarter in Bulgaria's Plovdiv has started to arm themselves amidst escalating ethnic tensions, Plovdiv media report. Roma from across Stolipinovo and other Roma-inhabited quarters – Adzhasan Mahala and Sheker Mahala – are reported to be seen arming themselves with sticks and shovels Sunday night in the aftermath of the incident in the village of Katunitsa where the murder of a 19-year-old Bulgaria led the local ethnic Bulgarians to revolt against the clan of notorious Roma boss Kiril Rashkov over the past couple of days. "We are getting increasingly worrying reports," Plovdiv24.bg, a local news website reported Sunday night, stressing that armed bands of Roma can be seen across the city, and are expected to stage riots overnight. Meanwhile, another Plovdiv news site, Podtepeto.com, reported that protesters have set on fire a club in the Stolipinovo quarter, and have attacked and beaten the participants in an ethnic Turkish wedding in the Dzhumaya Mosque. As of late Sunday night, the tension in the Roma quarters in Plovdiv is said to have subsided somewhat as a result of mediation efforts by the police, the local authorities, and the ethnic Turkish party DPS. The tensions are said to have been spurred by clans close to Tsar Kiro by spreading false rumors. At the same time, the Interior Ministry deployed hundreds of special riot police forces in Stolipinovo that it marched in from Sofia. Earlier reports said the police and gendarmerie have managed to prevent an escalation of tensions at the Roma-populated Adzhasan Mahala quarter by forcing local Roma provoking several thousand Bulgarian protesters with indecent gestures and threats into their homes. Earlier Sunday afternoon, several thousand people who rallied in Bulgaria's Plovdiv to protest against the murder of a 19-year-old boy in the nearby village of Katunitsa set off for a Roma-inhabited quarter in the city. The protesters rallied on the Unification Square in Plovdiv led by hundreds of bikers Sunday afternoon. At about the same time, the funeral of 19-year-old Angel Petrov in the village of Katunitsa took place. Petrov was run over and killed by associates of local Roma boss Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, Friday night. This led to protests by local ethnic Bulgarians against Rashkov's Roma clan followed Saturday night by an attack on Rashkov's estates by several hundred football hooligans from Plovdiv and Sofia. As the protest rally in Plovdiv unraveled Sunday afternoon, several thousands protesters headed for Adzhasan Mahala, a Roma inhabited quarter. Plovdiv, a city of some 350 000, is the home of the largest Roma-inhabited quarter in Bulgaria, Stolipinovo, with a population of about 40 000. Roma from Adzhasan Mahala have come out of their homes armed with sticks and shovels to meet the protesters, Plovdiv media reported. The Roma from Adzhasan Mahala started to provoke the protesters with indecent gestures and by waving in the air their impromptu weapons, which served to stir further the rally. The police and gendarmerie managed to stave off a large-scale escalation of the violence by entering the Roma-inhabited Adzhasan Mahala quarter and asking the locals to go back to their homes without using forces. It took them about 30 minutes to disperse the Roma. Meanwhile, new detachments of the gendarmerie managed to prevent the rally from crossing into the Roma quarter. 
BULGARIA GRANTS CITIZENSHIP TO 11 441 APPLICANTS IN 2011 Bulgaria has granted citizenship to 11 441 people since the beginning of 2011 until mid-September. Meanwhile, 125 individuals have given up on their Bulgarian passports. The data comes from the Justice Ministry. The fastest processing of the applications for citizenship has been declared a priority by the cabinet of the center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party after it took office in the summer of 2009. The frontrunner of the initiative was the Minister without Portfolio for Bulgarians Abroad, Bozhidar Dimitrov, who later resigned, but a record number of applications were approved in 2010 under his leadership – nearly 15 000 compared to 9 000 in 2009 and 7 113 in 2008 with the trend continuing in 2011, according to the data. The most passports in 2011 have been granted to people with Bulgarian origins – 5 533 from Macedonia and 1 593 from Moldova. 26 passports were given for important contributions to Bulgaria in the public and economic sector, science, technology, culture and sports; 9 competitors and coaches have also received Bulgarian citizenship, compared to 32 and 21 respectively in 2010. In 2011, 78 people became Bulgarian citizens under general naturalization which includes marriage with a Bulgarian while 352 have reinstated their Bulgarian citizenship, compared to just 78 in 2010. 19 people have given up their Bulgarian passports in 2011, compared to 125 last year. A total of 16 271 applications have been processed and 4 514 have been rejected with the main and most common reason being false documents. From January 1, 2002, until June 30, 2011, Bulgaria has received 127 006 citizenship applications and has granted passports to 68 539, according to data from the President's Office – mainly to people from Bulgarian origins or having at least one Bulgarian parent - 35808 from Macedonia, 18 646 from Moldova, 3 318 from Serbia, 2 733 from Russia, 2 526 from the Ukraine, 2 081 from Israel, 1128 from Albania. BULGARIA PATCHES THINGS UP WITH RUSSIAN TOURISTS AFTER 'HOSTAGE CRISIS' Russian tourists will not stop visiting Bulgaria in spite of the crises in the recent weeks, in which thousands of them were stranded at Bulgarian Black Sea airports, according to Grigory Sarishvili, deputy head of the Russian Federal Tourism Agency. "Russian tourists won't give up on Bulgaria because they are aware that it was not the Bulgarian state who was responsible for the recent problems," Sarishvili announced at a news conference in Moscow organized by the Bulgarian Ministry of Economy, Energy, and Tourism. The deputy head of the Russian Federal Tourism Agency referred to the crisis in which several thousand Russian and Finnish tourists got left stranded at the Bulgarian Black Sea cities of Burgas and Varna, after Bulgaria Air, Bulgaria's national air carrier owned by the Varna-based group TIM, refused to carry out chartered flights to Russia organized by Alma Tour, a Bulgarian tour operator, over alleged debts. The crisis, which was formally declared to be over a couple of days ago, as the last stranded Russian tourists left Bulgaria, led to Alma Tour's bankruptcy and reports that it would be swallowed by a TIM subsidiary, which were denied by the company. Sunday's news conference in Moscow was organized by the Bulgarian Economy Ministry with the Russian tourism fair "Отдых" 2011/ "Leisure" 2011 in order to inform the Russian public about the actions the Bulgarian state took to cope with the crisis caused by the Bulgaria Air-Alma Tour debt dispute, the ministry said. In addition to the representative of the Russian Federal Tourism Agency, the news conference featured a number of senior Bulgarian officials, including Bulgarian Ambassador to Russia Plamen Grozdanov, Bulgaria Air CEO Capt. Yanko Georgiev, and Bulgaria Air Commercial Director Mariya Stoyanova. The CEO of the Association of Russian Tour Operators Maya Lomidze and the press secretary of the Russian Union of Tourism Industry Irina Tyurina also took part in the briefing. The representatives of the Bulgarian side expressed before the Russian public their deep regret about the unpleasant situation caused by the disputes between two private companies, damaging Bulgaria's image as a traditionally welcoming destination for Russian tourists. Over the 2011 summer season Bulgaria saw a record number of Russian visitors who surpassed 300 000 in August. BULGARIA TO WELCOME SOUTH KOREA'S PM KIM HWANG-SIK South Korea's Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik is arriving to Bulgaria on a three-day visit, the Bulgarian Council of Ministers announced Sunday. Kim Hwang-sik will arrive in Sofia on September 26. The following day, he will have meetings and a joint news conference with his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov. Kim and Borisov will sign an agreement for mutual recognition of each country's driver's licenses, and will then open a Bulgarian-Korean business forum. On September 28, Kim will be welcomed by Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov. He will then visit the National History Museum and the Boyana Church in Sofia as well as the Old Town in Plovdiv. Kim's visit will be the second visit to Bulgaria by a South Korean Prime Minister, after the first visit by one of his predecessors Han Myeong-sook in 2006. The other highest-ranking visit in the bilateral relations was the 2009 visit in South Korea by Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov. Bulgaria and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1990. BULGARIAN PM: POLICE FAILED TO PREVENT ETHNIC CLASHES The police are to blame for failing to prevent the clashes in the village of Katunitsa near Plovdiv in the past couple of days which threaten to escalate into an ethnic conflict, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov declared. "The police let the situation slip out of hand," the PM said regarding the clashes in Katunitsa near Plovdiv, which ensued after Friday night a mini-bus with ethnic Roma close to local Roma boss Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, ran over and killed a 19-year-old ethnic Bulgarian boy. Amidst the protests of the locals, who complained Tsar Kiro's clan had been terrorizing him, football hooligans from Plovdiv stormed and torched the Roma boss's properties, while the police evacuated Rashkov's family. Speaking on Sunday, Borisov also vowed that all those responsible for the ethnic clashes will be punished, as cited by BTA. Even though late Saturday night – as some 200 football hooligans flocked to Katunitsa from Plovdiv and torched Tsar Kiro's properties – the police and gendarmerie adopted a hands-off policy, allegedly in order to prevent further clashes with casualties, they subsequently busted 127 people, and started 28 criminal procedures for hooliganism. At the same time, the authorities started an inspection into the business activities and properties of Roma boss Tsar Kiro. The locals have complained for years that Kiril Rashkov and his clan have been terrorizing them while enjoying privileged treatment by the authorities. Bulgarian PM Borisov, however, denied claims that the police have been protecting the Rashkov clan. He reiterated the statement of his party GERB denying that Rashkov was a GERB member. Borisov further said that if Rashkov is enjoying political protection, this will be revealed during the inspection of the Prosecutor's Office. Speaking earlier on Sunday, however, senior police officials have defended the tactics used by the police forces on the ground. Dimitar Georgiev, Deputy Interior Secretary, has defined the actions of the local police forces late Saturday as "right" because they prevented the escalation of the clashes and potential new casualties. He said the football hooligans from Plovdiv organized their trip to the village of Katunitsa via social networks online. "The police treated everyone equally, without favoring anybody on ethnic or social grounds," Georgiev commented. Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry Kalin Georgiev promised the police will crack down on any disturbance of the public order. "The Interior Ministry is protecting the public order in spite of the chants by the crowd in Katunitsa, asking, "Who are you protecting?", he stated. BULGARIAN PM: ETHNIC VIOLENCE CASE IS CRIMINAL, NOT POLITICAL Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov has issued a statement calling for non-politicization of the recent case of interethnic violence in the Plovdiv village of Katunitsa. "I am calling on all parties and politicians to behave seriously and to refrain from provoking political comments and actions, for that would lead to additional tensions," said the Bulgarian PM. "This is a criminal case and all state officials dealing with it are regarding it as being just that," added Borisov. Friday and Saturday tensions between ethnic Bulgarians and a Roma clan in Katunitsa escalated when a Bulgarian youth was killed, residents believe intentionally, by a van driven by Roma people. Bulgarians then went on to vandalize the property of notorious Roma leader Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, which led to some 200 riot police being deployed in Katunitsa. Saturday PM Borisov said he is keeping close track of the events and has dispatched Ministry of Interior Chief Secretary Kalin Georgiev on the site to manage the crisis. He emphasized that the Bulgarian government will take care of the safety of every Bulgarian citizen, and will bring perpetrators to justice, no matter their ethnicity. Nationalist political parties Ataka and VMRO have already denounced what they see as the state's undue toleration of "Roma crimes" and have vowed to act out. SOCIALIST OPPONENT: ETHNIC CLASHES SHOW UGLY BULGARIAN REALITY The latest developments in the village of Katunitsa near the second largest city of Plovdiv demonstrate the ugly reality Bulgarian people are forced to live in on a daily basis. The statement was issued by the presidential candidate of the opposition, left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, Ivaylo Kalfin – former Bulgarian Foreign Affairs Minister and current Member of the European Parliament, who says the police and the justice system are not functioning effectively, people have no protection; there is no political will for enforcing the law and citizens are attempting to solve their problems by taking matters in their own hands. "The murder of a Bulgarian citizen is a grave crime, whose instigators and perpetrators must by severely punished, while taking justice in one's own hands cannot be tolerated. Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov's words, labeling the events a crime, are unacceptable because these event have been triggered precisely by the passiveness of institutions," the statement reads. Kalfin is appealing to the government, the police, the prosecutor's office, and the court to calm the situation down by fulfilling their duties and to demonstrate that there is rule of law in Bulgaria. He also demands that Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, appears for a Parliamentary hearing on details of the case and the reasons for the ethnic conflict. It was announced meanwhile that the deportation of the family of the notorious Roma boss, Kiril Rashkov aka Tsar Kiro, from the village of Katunitsa, will be extremely difficult to realize. The statement has been made Sunday, during a special press conference in the second largest city of Plovdiv and was addressed to representatives of the initiative committee from the village who are demanding the deportation. The Head Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Chief Commissar, Kalin Georgiev, who is on the spot and spent the night in Katunitsa, announced earlier Sunday that the driver of the van, which run over and killed 19-year-old Angel Petrov from Katunitsa, has been arrested by the police. The man had briefly left the country and was detained immediately after his return. He was issued a country-wide search warrant Friday night when a van, transporting Roma from the Stolipinovo district in Plovdiv, ran over the 19-year-old ethnic Bulgarian boy in Katunitsa around 8 pm. The driver, 55, with the initials C.Y., has a long rap sheet. Tensions in the area began after the grandson of the notorious Roma boss and Katunitsa resident, Kiril Rashkov aka Tsar Kiro, went to the Roma district of Stolipinovo to invite 10-15 people to mark the anniversary of his father and Rashkov son's death. Upon the arrival of three vehicles with Stolipinovo Roma in Katunitsa, a conflict erupted between Tsar Kiro's grandson and a local ethnic Bulgarian, which, allegedly, prompted the Roma driver to run over the 19-year-old boy while the latter was walking his dog. Angel had been dragged by the van for several meters and later died in the hospital. Minutes after the incident, angry people from the village began to gather. They were able to break the police chain and attack and destroy some of Rashkov's property. One of the houses was set on fire, but was extinguished by firefighters who arrived on the scene. Five people – two young men from the village and three policemen were injured after another Roma vehicle drove through the crowd. The tensions escalated further Saturday morning after a meeting with Plovdiv Police Chief Todor Chonov when local ethnic Bulgarians demanded the deportation of Rashkov's family from the village, claiming the authorities have been protecting the criminal clan for years. After the meeting the crowd went to attack the family properties once again – breaking glass and overturning Rashkov's vehicles. During the turmoil, one of the participants in the attack, 16-year-old Pavel, passed out and was taken to the Plovdiv hospital, where he later died. The boy had been a close friend of Angel Petrov, and underwent a heart transplant several years ago. 127 people were arrested Saturday evening, after football hooligans from Plovdiv, Sofia and Stara Zagora, flocked to the village, storming and setting on fire Tsar Kiro's properties, the press center of the Interior Ministry informed Sunday. The football hooligans staged the assault late Saturday night, amidst escalating ethnic tensions. Most of the attackers were wearing masks and wigs. 230 police and gendarmerie officers from Plovdiv, Smolyan, Stara Zagora, and Pazardzhik occupied the entire village of Katunitsa for the night. Tensions could escalate further on Sunday when the funeral of the murdered 19-year-old Bulgarian boy will take place. Interethnic tensions have been simmering in Katunitsa for years, with locals complaining of Tsar Kiro and members of his family exercising a self-styled rule over the community, with authorities doing little or nothing to curb it. Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov issued a statement Saturday, calling for non-politicization of the case of interethnic violence. "I am calling on all parties and politicians to behave seriously and to refrain from provoking political comments and actions, for that would lead to additional tensions," said the Bulgarian PM. "This is a criminal case and all state officials dealing with it are regarding it as being just that," added Borisov. Meanwhile, also on Sunday, Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, stressed that all politicians in Bulgaria are monitoring the situation closely due to its importance for the ethnic peace. Tsvetanov explained that 29 of the 127 individuals arrested Saturday evening will be tried under the speedy procedure and pointed out the importance of preventive measures the police will undertake to not allow any further incidents and ethnic conflicts. 
BULGARIAN NATIONALIST LEADER CALLS FOR EMERGENCY MEASURES TO CURB ETHNIC VIOLENCE Leader of nationalist Ataka party and presidential hopeful Volen Siderov has called for an extraordinary sitting of the Bulgarian Parliament due to the eruption of ethnic violence in a village that led to 2 deaths. "Parliament speaker Tsetska Tsacheva must call an emergency meeting of Parliament and President Georgi Parvanov must summon a national security council," stated Siderov. Friday night a youth from the Katunitsa village was allegedly intentionally run over to death by a van driven by Roma, after simmering ethnic tensions flared up. Ethnic Bulgarians gathered in protest and vandalized property of notorious Roma clan leader Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro. Some 200 riot police have been stationed in the large village nearby second-largest Bulgarian city of Plovdiv. In the tumult Saturday, a 16-year-old suffering from heart problems passed away from stroke, as crowds gathered again, burning cars. Saturday Siderov called for an immediate step down of the regional police directorate head and a resignation of Tsvetan Tsvetanov as campaign head of the ruling GERB party, so that he might resume his duties of Minister of Interior, from which he is on leave. Monday Ataka is organizing nationwide rallys in front of police offices across the country under the moto "Stop the Criminal Neglect of Brazen Roma Crimes!" MAJOR BULGARIAN PARTIES LAUNCH ELECTION CAMPAIGNS The ruling, center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party, launched Saturday evening their campaign for the October 23 local and presidential elections. The launch of the campaign was marked by a large-scale concert, held in the Black Sea city of Burgas, in the presence of Prime Minister and leader of GERB, Boyko Borisov, his Deputy and Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, the party's candidates for president and vice president - former Regional Policy Minister, Rosen Plevneliev, and Justice Minister, Margarita Popova, the mayor of Burgas, also from GERB, and a number of local politicians. "Our country is absorbing times more EU funds than the previous cabinet. We are building six highways and plan a number of new purification stations. I leave behind 20 to 30 km of new roads each day," Borisov said during his address to party members, followers and supporters, gathered in Burgas, adding he hoped Plevneliev and Popova would remain faithful and loyal to the European development of the country, should they be elected in office. "Modern, capable, educated, honest and open democrats are going to occupy the Office of the President, instead of agents and collaborators of the former Communist State Security," the PM declared. Tsvetanov, who is also the Head of the GERB election headquarters, further wished success to Plevneliev and Popova. All GERB candidates for local mayors were introduced during the event. Meanwhile, in the capital Sofia, the candidate for Mayor of the city from the opposition, left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, Georgi Kadiev, also launched his campaign with a concert, held in front of the Monument of the Soviet Army in the city's central park. Tsvetanov, Plevneliev and Popova are traveling Sunday to the other Black Sea city of Varna with a number of top Bulgarian comedians, pop and folk singers to address local residents and visitors. The event starts at 7 pm in front of the Festival Complex, at the entrance of the Maritime Garden. RULING PARTY PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL: BULGARIA NEEDS ACTIVE, PRO-ECONOMY PRESIDENT I hope that by now Bulgarians judge politicians by their deeds, not by their words, stated center-right ruling GERB party candidate for October 23 presidential elections Rosen Plevneliev. Saturday Plevneliev, until now the most popular minister in the cabinet of PM Boyko Borisov was on his first campaign trip, to Burgas and Sozopol on the southern Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Plevneliev vowed to be pro-active in pursuing what he sees as Bulgaria's national priorities, and to help with the work of the Borisov government. The former Bulgarian Minister of Regional Development stated that if elected, he would set the development of the economy, in particular tourism, as well as infrastructure as his key priorities. TURNOUT IN BULGARIAN ELECTIONS MIGHT REACH 60% - STUDIES Turnout in October 23 presidential and municipal elections in Bulgaria will likely be around 55%, according to a number of studies announced Saturday. The opinion agencies Alpha Research, Gallup and Mediana all announced similar results regarding Bulgarian citizens' intention to vote in the polls, some reaching a percentage as high as 60-5%. Rerprentatives nevertheless commented that such figures, based on people's stated intentions before the vote, are usually lower than the actual turnout on election day. Kolyo Kolev from Mediana and Andrey Raychev from Gallup further commented that some 75-80% of voters will vote motivated not so much by the support for their chosen candidate, but rather in order to voice a negative opinion for those in power. At the same time, Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov is retaining some 25-30% approval rate. Rosen Plevneliev, the presidential candidate of Borisov's GERB party, has a comfortable lead in opinion polls and is expected to get some 35% of the vote in the first round. CONTROVERSIAL BULGARIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BODES 'BLOODY' ELECTIONS Bulgarian businessman, ex-secret agent and presidential hopeful Aleksei Petrov has reported he and his supporters were intimidated by armed men at a campaign gathering. Saturday Petrov announced that armed people broke Friday evening into his apartment in his home town of Teteven, while he was holding a meeting with supporters. According to him, the swift and competent actions of security, police and ordinary citizens has prevented "a bloody shooting." "What happened last night only shows that the October 23 presidential and local elections will not only be unfair, but might actually turn bloody," commented Petrov. He vowed that his team will inform all relevant international institutions about the incident. Petrov commented that the incident is telling about the harmful nature of the rule of Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov's center right GERB party, which he described as self-serving and deleterious to the security and economic prosperity of Bulgarian citizens. Ex-agent, university professor and businessman Aleksei Petrov was spectacularly arrested in February 2010, and has been tried since that year on multiple counts of leading an organized crime group involved in drug traffic, prostitution and tax evasion. He has been branded by Bulgarian Minister of Interior Tsvetan Tsvetanov as leading the most extensive criminal network in the country, nicknamed 'the Octopus.' In the 1990s, Petrov was a business partner with PM Boyko Borisov, with whom he shares a past in the Bulgarian security business and sports circles. THOUSANDS RALLY TO HONOR KATUNITSA VIOLENCE VICTIMS ACROSS BULGARIA Thousands of people across Bulgaria honored the memory of the victims killed in the clashes in the village of Katunitsa where local ethnic Bulgarians have been pitted against a Roma clan. About 5000 people attended Sunday afternoon the funeral of 19-year-old Angel Petrov, who was ran over by a bus driven by associates of local Roma boss Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, late Friday. Those who came to the funeral included about 1 000 Bulgarian bikers from around the country. Before the funeral, about 500 people rallied on the Unification square in Plovdiv to honor the memory of Angel Petrov, and, a friend of his, a 16-year-old boy with a heart surgery, who died on Saturday during the protests in Katunitsa against the Rashkov clan as a result of a heart failure. Similar rallies organized through social networks took place Sunday afternoon in Sofia and the Danube city of Ruse. A number of NGOs and civic associations have taken part in the rallies, demanding that those responsible for the death of the two boys be punished, and that the conflict in Katunitsa has not resulted from ethnic tensions but from the fact that corrupt authorities have protected criminal bosses, apparently referring to the clan of Roma baron Kiril Rashkov. Rashkov, called "tsar" because of his wealth, is rumored to have acquired his riches by producing illegally fake alcohol in the past 20 years, and by running several prostitution and pickpocketing rings in Europe. None of these reports have been confirmed by the police. The procession for the funeral of 19-year-old Angel Petrov was heavily guarded by gendarmerie and police forces. The latest demonstration with demands to deport from Katunitsa notorious Roma Boss, Kiril Rashkov AKA Tsar Kiro, and his family, started in the village Sunday afternoon. Tensions in the area began after Rashkov's grandson went to the Roma district of Stolipinovo to invite 10-15 people to mark the anniversary of his father and Rashkov son's death. Upon the arrival of three vehicles with Stolipinovo Roma in Katunitsa, a conflict erupted between Tsar Kiro's grandson and a local ethnic Bulgarian, which, allegedly, prompted the Roma driver to run over a 19-year-old boy while the latter was walking his dog. Angel Petrov was dragged by the van for several meters and later died in the hospital. Minutes after the incident, angry people from the village began to gather. They were able to break the police chain and attack and destroy some of Rashkov's property. One of the houses was set on fire, but was extinguished by firefighters who arrived on the scene. Five people – two young men from the village and three policemen were injured after another Roma vehicle drove through the crowd – one of the men, 30, has head trauma; the other, 18, has a broken hip. Both are listed in the Plovdiv hospital. Two policemen have sustained broken arm bones while the third has cuts and rub sores. At the time, police arrested four Roma, who were passengers in the van that killed Angel, but the driver managed to avoid detention. The tensions escalated further Saturday morning after a meeting with Plovdiv Police Chief Todor Chonov when local ethnic Bulgarians demanded the deportation of Rashkov's family from the village, claiming the authorities have been protecting the criminal clan for years. After the meeting the crowd went to attack the family properties once again – breaking glass and overturning Rashkov's vehicles. During the turmoil, one of the participants in the attack, 16-year-old Pavel, passed out and was taken to the Plovdiv hospital, where he later died. The boy had been a close friend of Angel Petrov, and underwent a heart transplant several years ago. After some 200 football hooligans stormed and torched the estates of the Rashkov clan in Katunitsa Saturday night, and 127 were detained by the police, the locals expect additional tensions Sunday night. SPECIAL RIOT POLICE DEPLOYED IN ROMA QUARTERS IN BULGARIA'S PLOVDIV Several hundred of special riot police officers have been brought from Sofia to Plovdiv's Roma quarters in order to guard the peace overnight. The police officers were brought with dozens of buses after ethnic tensions grew Sunday night in Plovdiv as ethnic Bulgarian protesters, including a number of football hooligans, came close to targeting people from the local Roma quarters – Stolipinovo, Sheker Mahala, and Adzhisan Mahala. The tensions in the entire region grew after associates of ethnic Roma boss Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, ran over and killed 19-year-old Angel Petrov from the village of Katunitsa late Friday. This spurred protests which culminated Saturday night in an attack on Rashkov's properties staged by several hundred football hooligans. After Sunday's protest rally in Plovdiv, local Roma started to arm themselves in anticipation of pogroms. At the same time, however, a number of local Roma are reported to have provoked the protesters with indecent gestures and threats. The special riot police forces were deployed all over the Roma quarters in Plovdiv. Local media say the Roma in the Stolipinovo quarter have nonetheless armed themselves as a result of rumors that they will be attacked by groups of bikers and skin heads. TENSIONS IN BULGARIA'S PLOVDIV SUBSIDE, PROVOKED BY ROMA BOSS - REPORT The tensions in the Roma-populated districts in Bulgaria's Plovdiv have subsided Sunday night after a rumor has been exposed as false, according to local media. As of 7:30 pm local time, the ethnic tensions in Plovdiv have subsided, local news site Plovdiv24.bg reported. Just minutes earlier, several local media reported an escalation of the tensions as the Roma living in the Stolipinovo quarter in Bulgaria's Plovdiv started to arm themselves amidst escalating ethnic tensions. Roma from across Stolipinovo, the largest Roma quarter in Bulgaria, and other Roma-inhabited quarters – Adzhasan Mahala and Sheker Mahala – were to be arming themselves with sticks and shovels Sunday night in the aftermath of the incident in the village of Katunitsa where the murder of a 19-year-old Bulgaria led the local ethnic Bulgarians to revolt against the clan of notorious Roma boss Kiril Rashkov over the past couple of days. Reports say, the tension in the Roma quarters in Plovdiv was generated by two Roma clans that are close to Rashkov by spreading the rumor that a local Roma man was murdered in downtown Plovdiv, and that activists of the nationalist party VMRO were preparing to set a local mosque on fire. This led Roma in Stolipinovo, Sheker Mahala, and Adzhasan Mahala to "mobilize" and arm themselves with whatever they could find. Hundreds of Roma even went out of their homes and blocked a road running along the Maritsa River. The tensions was defused in the last moment by representatives of the local police, the district administration and the ethnic Turkish party DPS, which has a strong following in Stolipinovo who told the locals that the rumors about the murdered Roma man are untrue. POLICE COUNTER ROMA PROVOCATIONS IN BULGARIA'S PLOVDIV A massive escalation of ethnic violence appears to have been avoided in Bulgaria's Plovdiv Sunday night even though local Roma started to provoke several thousands of ethnic Bulgarian protesters. Earlier Sunday afternoon, several thousand people who rallied in Bulgaria's Plovdiv to protest against the murder of a 19-year-old boy in the nearby village of Katunitsa set off for a Roma-inhabited quarter in the city. The protesters rallied on the Unification Square in Plovdiv led by hundreds of bikers Sunday afternoon. At about the same time, the funeral of 19-year-old Angel Petrov in the village of Katunitsa took place. Petrov was run over and killed by associates of local Roma boss Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, Friday night. This led to protests by local ethnic Bulgarians against Rashkov's Roma clan followed Saturday night by an attack on Rashkov's estates by several hundred football hooligans from Plovdiv and Sofia. As the protest rally in Plovdiv unraveled Sunday afternoon, several thousands protesters headed for Adzhasan Mahala, a Roma inhabited quarter. Plovdiv, a city of some 350 000, is the home of the largest Roma-inhabited quarter in Bulgaria, Stolipinovo, with a population of about 40 000. Roma from Adzhasan Mahala have come out of their homes armed with sticks and shovels to meet the protesters, Plovdiv media reported. The Roma from Adzhasan Mahala started to provoke the protesters with indecent gestures and by waving in the air their impromptu weapons, which served to stir further the rally. The police and gendarmerie managed to stave off a large-scale escalation of the violence by entering the Roma-inhabited Adzhasan Mahala quarter and asking the locals to go back to their homes without using forces. It took them about 30 minutes to disperse the Roma. Meanwhile, new detachments of the gendarmerie managed to prevent the rally from crossing into the Roma quarter. ANGRY PROTESTERS TARGET BULGARIAN TV CHANNEL OVER ROMA CONFLICT REPORTING Several dozens of people have flocked to the headquarters of the bTV channel in Bulgaria's capital Sofia protesting the station's reporting of the conflict in the village of Katunitsa in the past two days. The protesters rallied to protest against the murder of a 19-year-old boy in the nearby village of Katunitsa. Petrov was run over and killed by associates of local Roma boss Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, Friday night. This led to protests by local ethnic Bulgarians against Rashkov's Roma clan followed Saturday night by an attack on Rashkov's estates by several hundred football hooligans from Plovdiv and Sofia. Petrov's funeral on Sunday brought together about 5 000 people and generated similar rallies across the country. The protest in Sofia, however, led the police to cordon off the TV channel's building near the National Palace of Culture. The protesters demanded a meeting with popular bTV reporter Mirolyuba Benatova – who was on the spot in Katunitsa as well as an apology from the TV station about its "interpretation" about the events in the Plovdiv village. The rally dispersed subsequently after making clear its dissatisfaction with the reporting of the Katunitsa crisis, accusing the journalists of reporting favorably to the Roma, Roma boss Kiril Rashkov, and to "Turkey's interests." 1 000 BIKERS JOIN PROTEST IN BULGARIA'S KATUNITSA About 1 000 Bulgarian bikers have joined the protests in the village of Katunitsa, near the second largest city of Plovdiv, according to unnamed police sources. The latest demonstration with demands to deport from Katunitsa notorious Roma Boss, Kiril Rashkov AKA Tsar Kiro, and his family, started in the village Sunday afternoon. Tensions in the area began after Rashkov's grandson went to the Roma district of Stolipinovo to invite 10-15 people to mark the anniversary of his father and Rashkov son's death. Upon the arrival of three vehicles with Stolipinovo Roma in Katunitsa, a conflict erupted between Tsar Kiro's grandson and a local ethnic Bulgarian, which, allegedly, prompted the Roma driver to run over a 19-year-old boy while the latter was walking his dog. Angel Petrov was dragged by the van for several meters and later died in the hospital. Minutes after the incident, angry people from the village began to gather. They were able to break the police chain and attack and destroy some of Rashkov's property. One of the houses was set on fire, but was extinguished by firefighters who arrived on the scene. Five people – two young men from the village and three policemen were injured after another Roma vehicle drove through the crowd – one of the men, 30, has head trauma; the other, 18, has a broken hip. Both are listed in the Plovdiv hospital. Two policemen have sustained broken arm bones while the third has cuts and rub sores. At the time, police arrested four Roma, who were passengers in the van that killed Angel, but the driver managed to avoid detention. The tensions escalated further Saturday morning after a meeting with Plovdiv Police Chief Todor Chonov when local ethnic Bulgarians demanded the deportation of Rashkov's family from the village, claiming the authorities have been protecting the criminal clan for years. After the meeting the crowd went to attack the family properties once again – breaking glass and overturning Rashkov's vehicles. During the turmoil, one of the participants in the attack, 16-year-old Pavel, passed out and was taken to the Plovdiv hospital, where he later died. The boy had been a close friend of Angel Petrov, and underwent a heart transplant several years ago. Another 127 people were arrested Saturday evening, after 2 000 alleged football fans from the clubs of Lokomotiv Plovdiv FC, Botev Plovdiv FC, joined later by fans from Sofia's CSKA and Levski football clubs and football fans from the southern city of Stara Zagora, flocked to the village, storming and setting on fire Tsar Kiro's properties, the Head Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Chief Commissar, Kalin Georgiev, informed Sunday during a press conference held at the Regional Police Directorate building in Sofia. The hundreds of police and gendarmerie officers brought to Katunitsa adopted a hands-off policy and abstained from tackling the arsonists, but it was reported by the TV channel bTV Sunday that the main mansion of the family has remained intact. According to Georgiev, the policy aimed at avoiding a further escalation of tensions, and potential casualties if the police clashed with the hooligans. He further reported that 101 of those arrested have been interrogated and 28 have been indicted. The first case against a participant in the overnight clashes had started in Plovdiv at 10:30 am Sunday, according to the Chief Commissar. The Sunday briefing was also attended by the Head of the Plovdiv Police, Commissar, Todor Chonov, Deputy Interior Minister, Veselin Vuchkov, and the Plovdiv Regional Prosecutor, Ivan Daskalov. Georgiev reiterated the police acted accordingly, stressing from now on no violations of public order would be tolerated. The driver of the van, identified as C.Y., 55, which killed Angel, has been arrested Saturday night upon his return from the neighboring Turkey where he escaped briefly, he confirmed. Prosecutor Daskalov announced the man will be charged with manslaughter stemming from a traffic incident – a crime which is penalized by 10 to 20 years of jail time. Deputy Interior Minister Vuchkov pointed out there was a coincidence between the clashes in Katunitsa and the official start of the election campaign for the October 23 presidential and local elections and voiced hope politicians would refrain from using the incident for political gains. He promised the police would remain politically unbiased and would apply all effort to safeguard ethnic peace. "Rashkov is available to the investigation and his testimony is not a problem. The Chief Prosecutor, Boris Velchev, has ordered a probe of the source of all real estate properties and assets of the family," Daskalov said. Meanwhile, Bozhidar Bozhinov, an official representative of the Botev Plovdiv football team's fan club firmly denied reports the overnight clashes in Katunitsa were organized by his or other clubs. "These were just young people, who went there as demonstration of their civil position. If we lived in a country where there is rule of law this would not be going on," Bozhinov declared. Tensions could escalate further on Sunday when the funeral of the murdered 19-year-old Bulgarian boy will take place. BULGARIA'S RULING PARTY DENIES AFFILIATION WITH NOTORIOUS ROMA 'TSAR' Notorious Roma boss Kiril Rashkov, aka "Tsar Kiro", is not a member of the ruling center-right party GERB, the party announced seeking to refute media reports. Rashkov, the head of a extremely rich Roma clan based in the village of Katunitsa near Bulgaria's Plovdiv, attracted public attention as a result of a row with local ethnic Bulgarians, which resulted in ethnic clashes, after late Friday a group of Roma associated with him ran over a 19-year-old Bulgarian boy in Katunitsa. Amidst the protests of the locals, who complained Tsar Kiro's clan had been terrorizing him, football hooligans from Plovdiv stormed and torched the Roma boss's properties, while the police evacuated Rashkov's family. "With respect to the deceitful and manipulative information on the Internet – published in media and online forums – that Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro is a member of the GERB political party, we declare that the vigorously put forth piece of "news" is a complete fabrication," the ruling party GERB said in a statement Sunday afternoon. The GERB statement came after reports by several cable TV channels that quickly hit social networks that Rashkov is a member of the GERB party of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, and that he is also among the persons providing notorious donations to the local police – a controversial practice that led Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov to formally discontinue it several weeks ago. The reports further claimed that because of his donations to the police Rashkov had a special sticker on his car that allowed him to move undisturbed by the police in the Plovdiv District. Unlike the GERB party, the Interior Ministry has not denied the donation reports yet. ETHNIC VIOLENCE IN BULGARIA GOES WILD: CROWD SETS ABLAZE HOUSE OF ROMA BOSS An angered crowd of ethnic Bulgarians has set on fire the estate of notorious Roma clan leader Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, in the village of Katunitsa after ethnic tensions escalated to an unprecedented high. The luxury estate of Tsar Kiro, in which members of his family reside, has been set aflame from all sides, as riot police are unable to stop rioters. Fire squads are attempting to quench up the blazes, as protesters keep on vandalizing the property. According to senior police sources, the members of Tsar Kiro's family who were present at the site have been safely escorted by police out of the village. Tensions first flared up Friday evening, after what locals describe as the intentionall running over and killing of a local 19-year-old ethnic Bulgarian by a car full of Roma people. Local Bulgarian residents went to vandalize the property of the famous and influential local Roma leader, but were largely restrained by a 200-strong deployment of police. However, reports have it that Saturday evening rioters are not Katunitsa locals, but rather extremist football fans of the two major teams in nearby city of Plovdiv, Lokomotiv and Botev. People in Katunitsa are reported to alarmed at the escalation of violence, as they fear what effects the conflict will have on the future of life in the village. According to eyewitnesses, some 200 vandals are throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at the Rashkov residence, shouting "Murderers!" Cars from Plovdiv are said to be flocking to the village. Interethnic tensions have been simmering in Katunitsa for years, with locals complaining of Tsar Kiro and members of his family exercising a self-styled rule over the community, with authorities doing little or nothing to curb it. NOTORIOUS BULGARIAN ROMA BOSS: KILLED BOY WAS 'EXTREMIST' Notorious Bulgarian Roma boss Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, has stated his family have nothing to do with the death case that provoked ethnic unrest in the village of Katuntsi. Friday evening a van driven by Roma ran over to death 19-year-old local ethnic Bulgarian Angel Petrov, in what fellow villagers believe was a deliberate action. This led ethnic Bulgarians to vandalize extensive property of the Rashkov family in the village, which prompted the deployment of riot police. "Neither I nor my family have anything to do with the death case," said Tsar Kiro for Nova TV Saturday evening. He went on to characterize Petrov as belonging to "a group of extremists" who have been molesting his family for years. "My family won't be moving of Katunitsa, as some villagers have requested. If they desire, they can move out," commented Tsar Kiro on calls from some angry rioters. According to Plovdiv regional police head Todor Chonov, the Rashkov family has had an ongoing property conflict with the family of the killed Angel Petrov, with both parties having lodged complaints with the authorities. 2ND PERSON PERISHES IN BULGARIA ETHNIC CLASHES A 16-year-old suffering from heart problems passed away from stroke as a crowd ethnic Bulgarians gathered Saturday to protest against an influential Roma family in the village of Katunitsa. Friday night a 19-year-old ethnic Bulgarian was reportedly purposefully run over and killed by a van driven by Roma, after which angry Bulgarians gathered around the houses of notorious clan leader Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro. 5 persons, including 3 police officers, have been injured in the ensuing clashes, when a vehicle driven by Roma drove into the crowd. Hundreds of riot police were mobilized after angry crowds started vandalizing the property of the Tsar Kiro family. Protesters have assembled around the Tsar Kiro houses Saturday, requesting the evokation of the entire family from the village. One more person has suffered health problems in the tumult. Police have arrested 6 persons of Roma ethnicity, who were in the cars that caused the death and injuries. The people detained come from the Stolipinovo neighborhood in the nearby city of Plovdiv. The driver of the killer van, who is still on the loose, has been identified and an arrest warrant has been issued. 1 DEAD, 6 INJURED, 6 ARRESTED IN BULGARIA ETHNIC CLASHES 6 persons, including 3 police officers, have been injured, in addition to the person killed in inter-ethnic riots between Bulgarians and Roma that erupted in the Bulgarian village of Katunitsa Friday and Saturday. Friday night a 19-year-old ethnic Bulgarian was purposefully run over and killed by a van driven by Roma, after which angry Bulgarians gathered around the houses of notorious clan leader Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro. A car driven by Roma drove into the crowd, injuring 5 persons, including three of the police officers who had arrived at the scene. Hundreds of riot police were mobilized after angry crowds started vandalizing the property of the Tsar Kiro family. Protesters have assembled around the Tsar Kiro houses Saturday, requesting the evokation of the entire family from the village. One more person has suffered health problems in the tumult. Police have arrested 6 persons of Roma ethnicity, who were in the cars that caused the death and injuries. The people detained come from the Stolipinovo neighborhood in the nearby city of Plovdiv. The driver of the killer van has not been identified and an arrest warrant has been issued. ANGRY BULGARIANS: POLICE GUARD ROMA BOSS LIKE GADDAFI HENCHMEN Ethnic Bulgarian residents of the Plovdiv village of Katunitsa have vowed to retaliate the violent death of a local youth, who was intentionally run over by a van driven by Roma Friday night. Some 200 riot police have been stationed in Katunitsa, pop. 2,500, after people stormed the residence of notorious Roma clan leader Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, blaming him for the incident. According to reports by Podtepeto.com, tensions between ethnic Bulgarians and Roma in the village flared Friday, after which Roma mobilized fellow men from the Plovdiv Roma neighborhood Stolipinovo, who arrived with the said van. They ran over 19-year-old Angel Petrov, who was walking his dog, dragging the body for meters before fleeing. People swiftly gathered in protest and vandalized property of the Rashkov family, after which riot police set in to prevent further violence. "We want justice! We cannot stand the arbitrary actions of this clan anymore. And now police is guarding Tsar Kiro like the henchmen of Gaddafi in Libya," said one angry protester. People in Katunitsa have commented that for years they have lived "like serfs" to Tsar Kiro, being left at the mercy of his and his family's whims. Some have requested the evokation of the entire Rashkov family from Katunitsa so that peaceful and orderly life in the village might resume. BULGARIAN RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS TEAM NAILS WORLD GOLD Bulgaria's women's rhythmic gymnastics teams has won gold in the 3 ribbons/2 hoops discipline final at the World Championship in Montpelier, France.
Italy came in second after Bulgaria, and Israel's team came in third.
Before nailing the gold, Bulgaria's team featuring
Reneta Kamberova, Mihaela Maevska, Tsvetelina Naydenova, Elena Todorova,
Hristina Todorova, and Katrin Velkova earlier won the bronze in the 5
balls discipline final, and two bronze medals earlier.
The team is led by one of the Bulgarian legends in rhythmic gymnastics, Iliyana Raeva.
In addition to the medals, the Bulgarian gymnasts won Saturday a quota for the Olympics in London in 2012.
BULGARIAN RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS TEAM WINS WORLD BRONZE Bulgaria's women's rhythmic gymnastics team won the 2011 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championship bronze medal in the groups competition Saturday evening in Montpellier, France. Reneta Kamberova, Mihaela Maevska, Tsvetelina Naydenova, Elena Todorova, Hristina Todrova, and Catherin Velkova, brought to Bulgaria the first medal from a world championship since 2003, when the then team won the silver. In addition to the third place, the Bulgarian gymnasts won Saturday a quota for the Olympics in London in 2012. The team performed two combinations with 5 balls, 2 hoops and 3 ribbons and received a total of 54.125 points, which secured the bronze medal. This is the third medal and the second quota for the Bulgarian competitors, after Silviya Miteva's bronze medals in the individual combinations with ribbon and clubs and her 7th place in the overall individual competition. Italy won the 2011 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championship in Montpellier. This became the third consecutive world title for the Italian women's team after those in Mie' (2009), and Moscow (2010). The gymnasts of the Italian Air Force, Elisa Santoni, Elisa Blanchi, Angelika Savrayuk and Romina Laurito, and their team mates Andrea Stefanescu and Marta Pagnini, won the gold medal with a final score of 55.150 (5 balls 27.350 - 3 ribbons and 2 hoops 27.800). Olympic champion Russia (54.850) ranked second, ahead of Bulgaria (54.125). Belarus, (52.850 т.), Japan (52.725) and Germany (52.675) are the other teams among the top six. Bulgaria is currently fourth by the number of medals won, with its three bronzes. Russia is first with 12 medals – 6 gold and 6 silver, while Italy is third with 1 gold, followed by Belarus with 1 silver and 1 bronze. The Championship is concluding Sunday with the finals in single apparatus ensemble competitions. The Bulgarian team has qualified for several of them. BULGARIAN POLICE START INVESTIGATION AGAINST ROMA CLAN, VILLAGE RIOTERS Bulgarian police from Plovdiv have vowed to investigate the family of Roma leader Kiril Rashkov and rioters who vanalized their property in the village of Katunitsa, after ethnic violence broke out. According to Plovdiv police head Todor Chonov, there are 20 ongoing investigations against the Rashkov family and all of them will be updated and pressed forward. Police have also started investigations against the persons who set to fire the Rashkov mansion, and three of the family cars in riots Friday and Saturday. Unrest broke out after what ethnic Bulgarians say is the intentional running over and killing of a Bulgarian youth by a van driven by Roma. Speaking Saturday, Chonov said that it is yet to be determined whether the act was intentional or just a tragic road accident. The Plovdiv police head further commented that tension between Bulgarians and Roma families in Katunitsa have been simmering for long, and are regularly flaring up. According to him, there has been a property dispute between the Rashkov family and the family of the killed youth, with both parties having previously lodged complaints with the police. Chonov assured that Bulgarian police does not care about the ethnicity of Bulgarian citizens and vowed to protect all involved, as well as to bring to justice crime perpetrators. Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, has a notorious past in Bulgaria's criminal world even before the transition to democracy in 1989. Of late, he has gained fresh notoriety for being involved in several cases of production of bootleg alcohol. Villagers in Katunitsa have complained of having for years lived "like serfs" under the arbitrary self-rule of the Rashkov clan. BULGARIAN FOOTBALL HOOLIGANS STORM HOMES OF NOTORIOUS ROMA BOSS Football hooligans from Bulgaria's Plovdiv have flocked to the village of Katunitsa, storming and setting on fire properties of notorious Roma boss Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, the police have confirmed. The football hooligans staged the assault late Saturday night, amidst escalating ethnic tensions, after a 19-old ethnic Bulgarian boy was run over by ethnic Roma Friday night. Some 200 soccer hooligans from the fan clubs of Lokomotiv Plovdiv FC and Botev Plovdiv FC took part in attack on three homes owned by the clan of Roma boss Kiril Rashkov in the village of Katunitsa, while the locals shied away from partaking in the violence, the bTV correspondents reported. The hooligans' outburst started at about 8 pm Saturday night, and was over by 10 pm, as one of Tsar Kiro's homes was essentially destroyed. The hundreds of police and gendarmerie officers brought to Katunitsa adopted a hands-off policy and abstained from tackling the arsonists. According to Kalin Georgiev, Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry, who is on the spot, the policy was adopted in order to avoid a further escalation of tensions, and potential casualties if the police clashed with the hooligans. The major job of the gendarmerie instead has been to secure the spots for the fire fighters who arrived shortly to tackle the numerous fires set by the hooligans. Most of the attackers are wearing masks and wigs. Police and gendarmerie officers from Plovdiv, Smolyan, Stara Zagora, and Pazardzhik have occupied the entire village of Katunitsa for the night. Tensions could escalate further on Sunday when the funeral of the murdered 19-year-old Bulgarian boy will take place. The police are still searching for the 55-year-old Roma driver who is reported to have killed him. The members of the Rashkov clan have been evacuated by the police away from the village of Katunitsa. Interior Secretary Georgiev has refused to reveal their location for safety reasons. DRIVER OF ROMA KILLER VAN ARRESTED BY BULGARIAN POLICE The driver of the van, which run over and killed 19-year-old Angel Petrov from the village of Katunitsa, near the second largest Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, has been arrested by the police. The information was announced Sunday morning by Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Chief Commissar, Kalin Georgiev, who is on the spot and spent the night in Katunitsa. The man had briefly left the country and was detained immediately after his return. He was issued a country-wide search warrant Friday night when a van, transporting Roma from the Stolipinovo district in Plovdiv, ran over the 19-year-old ethnic Bulgarian boy in Katunitsa around 8 pm. The driver, 55, with the initials C.Y., has a long rap sheet. Tensions in the area began after the grandson of the notorious Roma boss and Katunitsa resident, Kiril Rashkov aka Tsar Kiro, went to the Roma district of Stolipinovo to invite 10-15 people to mark the anniversary of his father and Rashkov son's death. Upon the arrival of three vehicles with Stolipinovo Roma in Katunitsa, a conflict erupted between Tsar Kiro's grandson and a local ethnic Bulgarian, which, allegedly, prompted the Roma driver to run over the 19-year-old boy while the latter was walking his dog. Angel had been dragged by the van for several meters and later died in the hospital. Minutes after the incident, angry people from the village began to gather. They were able to break the police chain and attack and destroy some of Rashkov's property. One of the houses was set on fire, but was extinguished by firefighters who arrived on the scene. Five people – two young men from the village and three policemen were injured after another Roma vehicle drove through the crowd – one of the men, 30, has head trauma; the other, 18, has a broken hip. Both are listed in the Plovdiv hospital. Two policemen have sustained broken arm bones while the third has cuts and rub sores. At the time, police arrested four Roma, who were passengers in the van that killed Angel, but the driver managed to avoid detention. The tensions escalated further Saturday morning after a meeting with Plovdiv Police Chief, Todor Chonov, when local ethnic Bulgarians demanded the deportation of Rashkov's family from the village, claiming the authorities have been protecting the criminal clan for years. After the meeting the crowd went to attack the family properties once again – breaking glass and overturning Rashkov's vehicles. During the turmoil, one of the participants in the attack, 16-year-old Pavel, passed out and was taken to the Plovdiv hospital, where he later died. The boy had been a close friend of Angel Petrov, and underwent a heart transplant several years ago. Another 127 people were arrested Saturday evening, after football hooligans from Plovdiv flocked to the village, storming and setting on fire Tsar Kiro's properties, the press center of the Interior Ministry informs Sunday. The football hooligans staged the assault late Saturday night, amidst escalating ethnic tensions. Some 2 000 soccer hooligans from the fan clubs of Lokomotiv Plovdiv FC, Botev Plovdiv FC, joined later by fans from Sofia's CSKA and Levski football clubs and football fans from the southern city of Stara Zagora, took part in attack on three homes owned by the clan of the Roma boss. The hooligans' outburst started at about 8 pm Saturday night, and was over by 10 pm, as one of Tsar Kiro's homes was essentially destroyed. There were no reported injuries. The hundreds of police and gendarmerie officers, brought to Katunitsa, adopted a hands-off policy and abstained from tackling the arsonists, but it was reported by the TV channel bTV Sunday that the main mansion of the Roma family has remained intact. According to Kalin Georgiev, the policy aimed at avoiding a further escalation of tensions, and potential casualties if the police clashed with the hooligans. The major job of the gendarmerie instead has been to secure the spots for the firefighters who arrived shortly to tackle the numerous blazes set by the hooligans. Most of the attackers were wearing masks and wigs. 230 police and gendarmerie officers from Plovdiv, Smolyan, Stara Zagora, and Pazardzhik occupied the entire village of Katunitsa for the night. Tensions could escalate further on Sunday when the funeral of the murdered 19-year-old Bulgarian boy will take place. The members of the Rashkov clan have been evacuated by 20 policemen, who escorted them away from the village, immediately after the incident with the van. Interior Secretary Georgiev has refused to reveal their location for safety reasons. Tsar Kiro, however, declared in a phone interview for bTV Sunday morning that he remains in his mansion in Katunitsa, unwavering he would never evacuate. The Plovdiv Regional Prosecutor, Ivan Daskalov, is also on the spot, to decide on the indictment of those arrested – charges will include vandalism, hooliganism, arson, demolition of property. Strong police presence is to remain in Katunitsa. Kalin Georgiev, Daskalov and the Head of the Plovdiv Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry, Commissar, Todor Chonov, are scheduled to hold a joint press conference at 11 am Sunday in the Directorate's building in Plovdiv. Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov issued a statement Saturday, calling for non-politicization of the case of interethnic violence. "I am calling on all parties and politicians to behave seriously and to refrain from provoking political comments and actions, for that would lead to additional tensions," said the Bulgarian PM. "This is a criminal case and all state officials dealing with it are regarding it as being just that," added Borisov. Interethnic tensions have been simmering in Katunitsa for years, with locals complaining of Tsar Kiro and members of his family exercising a self-styled rule over the community, with authorities doing little or nothing to curb it. BULGARIAN AUTHORITIES LAUNCH PROBE OF ROMA BOSS' ASSETS The deportation of the family of the notorious Roma boss, Kiril Rashkov aka Tsar Kiro, from the village of Katunitsa, will be extremely difficult to realize, according to the Bulgarian police. The statement has been made Sunday, during a special press conference in the second largest city of Plovdiv and was addressed to representatives of the initiative committee from the village who are demanding the deportation. During the meeting, which was held in the building of the Plovdiv Regional Police Directorate, the Interior Ministry and the Prosecutor's Office made the commitment to establish the source of all real estate properties and assets of Rashkov and his family. The press conference was attended by the Head of the Plovdiv Police, Commissar, Todor Chonov, Deputy Interior Minister, Veselin Vuchkov, the Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Chief Commissar, Kalin Georgiev, and the Plovdiv Regional Prosecutor, Ivan Daskalov. Georgiev is quoted telling the participants from the initiative committee that no one can be deported in the 21st century without sound proof they have committed a crime, adding there is currently no such evidence about the Rashkov family. He also informed that 3 policemen have been injured since the beginning of the clashes. "In this case the law was quickly reinforced. We are going to probe the traffic incident to establish if this had been a purposeful act or simply an accident. Police apprehended the perpetrator, but also arrested the arsonists, meaning we treat everyone equally," the Chief Commissar concluded. Georgiev, who is on the spot and spent the night in Katunitsa, announced earlier Sunday that the driver of the van, which run over and killed 19-year-old Angel Petrov from Katunitsa, near Plovdiv, has been arrested by the police. The man had briefly left the country and was detained immediately after his return. He was issued a country-wide search warrant Friday night when a van, transporting Roma from the Stolipinovo district in Plovdiv, ran over the 19-year-old ethnic Bulgarian boy in Katunitsa around 8 pm. The driver, 55, with the initials C.Y., has a long rap sheet. Tensions in the area began after the grandson of the notorious Roma boss and Katunitsa resident, Kiril Rashkov aka Tsar Kiro, went to the Roma district of Stolipinovo to invite 10-15 people to mark the anniversary of his father and Rashkov son's death. Upon the arrival of three vehicles with Stolipinovo Roma in Katunitsa, a conflict erupted between Tsar Kiro's grandson and a local ethnic Bulgarian, which, allegedly, prompted the Roma driver to run over the 19-year-old boy while the latter was walking his dog. Angel had been dragged by the van for several meters and later died in the hospital. Minutes after the incident, angry people from the village began to gather. They were able to break the police chain and attack and destroy some of Rashkov's property. One of the houses was set on fire, but was extinguished by firefighters who arrived on the scene. Five people – two young men from the village and three policemen were injured after another Roma vehicle drove through the crowd – one of the men, 30, has head trauma; the other, 18, has a broken hip. Both are listed in the Plovdiv hospital. Two policemen have sustained broken arm bones while the third has cuts and rub sores. At the time, police arrested four Roma, who were passengers in the van that killed Angel, but the driver managed to avoid detention. The tensions escalated further Saturday morning after a meeting with Plovdiv Police Chief Todor Chonov when local ethnic Bulgarians demanded the deportation of Rashkov's family from the village, claiming the authorities have been protecting the criminal clan for years. After the meeting the crowd went to attack the family properties once again – breaking glass and overturning Rashkov's vehicles. During the turmoil, one of the participants in the attack, 16-year-old Pavel, passed out and was taken to the Plovdiv hospital, where he later died. The boy had been a close friend of Angel Petrov, and underwent a heart transplant several years ago. Another 127 people were arrested Saturday evening, after football hooligans flocked to the village, storming and setting on fire Tsar Kiro's properties, the press center of the Interior Ministry informs Sunday. The football hooligans staged the assault late Saturday night, amidst escalating ethnic tensions. Some 2 000 soccer hooligans from the fan clubs of Lokomotiv Plovdiv FC, Botev Plovdiv FC, joined later by fans from Sofia's CSKA and Levski football clubs and football fans from the southern city of Stara Zagora, took part in attack on three homes owned by the clan of the Roma boss. The hooligans' outburst started at about 8 pm Saturday night, and was over by 10 pm, as one of Tsar Kiro's homes was essentially destroyed. There were no reported injuries. The hundreds of police and gendarmerie officers brought to Katunitsa adopted a hands-off policy and abstained from tackling the arsonists, but it was reported by the TV channel bTV Sunday that the main mansion of the family has remained intact. According to Kalin Georgiev, the policy aimed at avoiding a further escalation of tensions, and potential casualties if the police clashed with the hooligans. The major job of the gendarmerie instead has been to secure the spots for the firefighters who arrived shortly to tackle the numerous blazes set by the hooligans. Most of the attackers were wearing masks and wigs. 230 police and gendarmerie officers from Plovdiv, Smolyan, Stara Zagora, and Pazardzhik occupied the entire village of Katunitsa for the night. Tensions could escalate further on Sunday when the funeral of the murdered 19-year-old Bulgarian boy will take place. The members of the Rashkov clan have been evacuated by 20 policemen, who escorted them away from the village, immediately after the incident with the van. Interior Secretary Georgiev has refused to reveal their location for safety reasons. Tsar Kiro, however, declared in a phone interview for bTV Sunday morning that he remains in his mansion in Katunitsa, unwavering he would never evacuate. The Plovdiv Regional Prosecutor, Ivan Daskalov, was also on the spot, to decide on the indictment of those arrested – charges will include vandalism, hooliganism, arson, demolition of property. Strong police presence is to remain in Katunitsa. Interethnic tensions have been simmering in Katunitsa for years, with locals complaining of Tsar Kiro and members of his family exercising a self-styled rule over the community, with authorities doing little or nothing to curb it. Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov issued a statement Saturday, calling for non-politicization of the case of interethnic violence. "I am calling on all parties and politicians to behave seriously and to refrain from provoking political comments and actions, for that would lead to additional tensions," said the Bulgarian PM. "This is a criminal case and all state officials dealing with it are regarding it as being just that," added Borisov. Meanwhile, also on Sunday, Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, stressed that all politicians in Bulgaria are monitoring the situation closely due to its importance for the ethnic peace. Tsvetanov explained that 29 of the 127 individuals arrested Saturday evening will be tried under the speedy procedure and pointed out the importance of preventive measures the police will undertake to not allow any further incidents and ethnic conflicts. 13 ARRESTED FOR ATTACKING ROMA IN BULGARIA'S VARNA Thirteen men have been arrested in Bulgaria's Black Sea city of Varna late Sunday for attacking a group of Roma. The attack occurred after an unsanctioned rally protesting the murder of a 19-year-old ethnic Bulgarian boy in the village of Katunitsa near Plovdiv, which led to ethnic tensions as local Bulgarians rose against the clan of Roma boss Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro. The men in Varna attacked a group of several Roma; one of the Roma was injured but his life is not in danger, the Bulgarian National Radio reported. The incident in Varna has come at about the same time as ethnic tensions in the southern city of Plovdiv have escalated with local Roma reportedly arming themselves as several thousand Bulgarians rallied in the city Sunday afternoon. *UK LABOR MINISTRY: BULGARIAN, ROMANIAN IMMIGRANTS HAVE LOW EDUCATION Click here to read the story: www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=132372 MEDVEDEV, PUTIN STAGE PUTIN'S RETURN AS RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT In separate statements, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and PM Vladimir Putin stated they are willing to exchange positions after upcoming elections. The announcements, which are very telling for the future of the tandem leading Russia, were made Saturday at a congress of Putin's United Russia party. Saturday PM Putin, who was Russia's president before Medvedev, suggested that the latter might lead the lists of the United Russia party for parliamentary elections in December. On his part, President Medvedev said he was ready to work in Russia's executive and suggested that Vladimir Putin run for another presidential mandate. Medvedev's proposal was met with a standing ovation by United Russia delegates present at the forum. Vladimir Putin was Russia's PM 1999-2000, after which he succeeded Boris Yeltsin at the presidential position, after the latter resigned. Putin served his constitutional two 4-year terms of office (2000-8), after being re-elected in 2004. Medvedev, a close Putin aide across the years, served as Russia's first deputy-PM, before being elected for presdient in 2008. Speculations were rife whether Medvedev will opt to run for a second term in 2012, or will let Putin run again, as the Russian constitution limits the number of terms to to consecutive ones, leaving the option to run later. Saturday's statements are the first official pronouncements by the two leaders strongly confirming the scenario of a Vladimir Putin comeback at the helm of Russia. KURDISH SEPARATISTS KILL 6 POLICE OFFICERS IN TURKEY Nine people have perished in Southeastern Turkey in clashes between Turkish police and separatists from the Kurdistan Workers Party PKK. A group of armed Kurdish militants attacked a Turkish police station in the Pervari district of Siirt province Saturday night, DPA reported. Six police officers were killed and 11 injured while security forces killed three of the attackers. The PKK is classified as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. The group has been fighting for an independent Kurdish state since the 1980s and also operates in northern Iraq. Kurdish organizations accuse the government in Ankara of systematic discrimination against Kurds. VATICAN: NO ATTEMPT ON POPE BENEDICT'S LIFE IN GERMANY The shots that were fired in the German city of Erfurt before a mass held by Pope Benedict XVI had nothing to do with the Pope's visit, according to Vatican spokesman Frederico Lombardi. Three shots were fired in the air close to the Erfurt central square 2 hours before the start of the solemn mass Saturday. The perpetrator was arrested. No one has been hurt during the incident. According to the Vatican source, German authorities have described the shooter as a "deranged person." Thursday Pope Benedict XVI embarked on a four-day visit to his native Germany. The four-day apostolic voyage begins in Berlin, followed by the cities of Erfurt, in the former East Germany, and Freiburg im Breisgau, near the Swiss-German border. MIDDLE EAST QUARTET URGES IMMEDIATE RESUMPTION OF TALKS The Middle East Quartet - the EU, Russia, USA and UN - have issued a statement urging immediate resumption of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian authority. Friday Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas tabled to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon the controversial request that Palestine become a full UN member. The bid was feared to flare tensions between Palestine and Israel, who have viewed it as a unilateral act eschewing direct talks. US President Barack Obama has criticized the Palestinian move, saying that the decade-long conflict cannot be resolved overnight and that the two parties must reach a well thought out agreement between them. "Within a month there will be a preparatory meeting between the parties to agree an agenda and method of proceeding in the negotiation," reads a statement issued by the Quarted in the wake of President Abbas's move. "At that meeting there will be a commitment by both sides that the objective of any negotiation is to reach an agreement within a timeframe agreed to by the parties but not longer than the end of 2012,"continues the declaration. The EU, Russia, USA and UN urge Israel and the Palestinian Authority to present comprehensive and specific proposal regarding the issues of territory and security. A conference is proposed to be held later in Moscow to set the stage for negotiations. |
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