Всеки е чувал за скандални уеб сайтове като Wikileaks, Balkanleaks, bivol.bg и други, които напоследък публикуват все повече от така наречените "грами". Макар и от преди 5 мес. все още ме впечатлява една от грамите на бившият американски посланик Джеймс Пардю, която той е изпратил през юли 2005 г. на службите в САЩ на тема "Организираната престъпност в България" и за която се твърди, че е публикувана нецензурирана.
Това е част от телеграмата на посланик Джеймс Пардю за българската организирана престъпност, която още преди 5 месеца беше публикувана дори в британския вестник на годината Guardian newspaper и популярният във Франция Le Monde.
Това е частичен откъс от доклада на оригиналната грама, а пълният текст на оригиналната грама не е достъпен все още.
7/7/2005 7:59 05SOFIA1207
Посолство София ПОВЕРИТЕЛНО 05SOFIA1046|05STATE99125
Посолство София ПОВЕРИТЕЛНО 05SOFIA1046|05STATE99125
ПОВЕРИТЕЛНА ЧАСТ 01 от 09 София 001207 SIPDIS МИНИСТЕРСТВО НА НАЦИОНАЛНАТА СИГУРНОСТ, МОЛЯ ДА СЕ ПРЕДАДЕ НА ТАЙНИТЕ СЛУЖБИ 12958: DECL: 07/07/2015 TAGS: PINR, KCRM, PGOV, EINV, ECON, KCOR, BU, Организирана престъпност ТЕМА: (U) ОРГАНИЗИРАНАТА ПРЕСТЪПНОСТ В БЪЛГАРИЯ (C-CN5-00054) REF: A. A. STATE 99125 B. B. SOFIA 1046
Класифицирано от ПОСЛАНИК ДЖЕЙМС ПАРДЮ ПО ПРИЧИНА 1.4(C).
1. (U) тази грама е в отговор на посоченото като А искане на информация за организираната престъпност в България и на Балканите. Където не са цитирани директни източници, връзките се базират на информация от оперативни контакти и обществено достъпни публикации.
Класифицирано от ПОСЛАНИК ДЖЕЙМС ПАРДЮ ПО ПРИЧИНА 1.4(C).
1. (U) тази грама е в отговор на посоченото като А искане на информация за организираната престъпност в България и на Балканите. Където не са цитирани директни източници, връзките се базират на информация от оперативни контакти и обществено достъпни публикации.
ОБЩ ПРЕГЛЕД И ДЕЙНОСТИ
2. (SBU) Може да се каже, че силата и имунитета спрямо закона на организираната престъпност (ОП) е най-сериозният проблем на България днес. Дейностите на ОП са в основата на корупцията и неефективността на съдебната система в България и спъват икономическото развитие на страната. Българската ОП е особено силно замесена в международно пране на пари, трафик на наркотици, и фалшификация на пари. Групировките на ОП са разнообразни – от местни улични престъпници, които се занимават с изнудване до находчиви международни нарко босове и такива свързани с пране на пари. Около 118 групи на организираната престъпност са действали в България в края на 2004 г., според данни на Националната служба за борба с организираната престъпност (НСБОП) към българското вътрешно министерство, но много от тези групи са малки и сцената е доминирана от шепа големи играчи. До днес нито една значителна фигура от ОП не е наказана от българската съдебна система, въпреки продължаващата серия от убийства свързани именно с ОП. Щатски правоприлагащи агенции с офиси в София подкрепят усилията за намаляване на ОП в България. Отделът за предотвратяване на измамите към консулския отдел на американското посолство в София води агресивна политика за предотвратяване на пътувания на личности от ОП до САЩ.
3. (SBU) Известно е, че групировките на ОП се занимават с трафик на наркотици, проституция, изнудване и рекет, различни финансови престъпления, кражби на коли и трафик на крадени автомобили. Трафикът на хора с цел сексуална експлоатация, измами с дебитни и кредитни карти са също част обичайните дейности на българската организирана престъпност. Криминалните групировки, които се занимават с трафик на хора са изключително подвижни и жертвите често се продават или разменят между различните групи. Много групировки използват като домакини редица законни фирми в страната или чужбина за да перат приходите от незаконните си дейности. Няколко добре известни бизнесмени свързани с организираната престъпност са заложили богатството си под формата на собственост на спортни отбори, проекти в недвижими имоти и финансови институции. (Една от дейностите на организираната престъпност, на която се отдаде специално внимание през 2004 г., поради големия й ръст, бяха измамите с данък добавена стойност (ДДС). Министерството на финансите изчислява, че измамите с ДДС водят до загуби за българската държавна хазна от около 700 милиона щатски долара годишно.)
4. (SBU) Фалшива валута – и щатски долари и напоследък все повече и повече евро, се произвежда в България и се разпространява главно във Франция, Гърция, Италия и Испания от малки групи българи, които се завръщат в България незабавно след като направят доставката. Въпреки, че се смята, че има сътрудничество между българските и международните криминални групировки, куриерите, посредниците и разпределите са предимно българи. Качеството на фалшивата валута непрекъснато се повишава поради добре оборудваните печатници и участието на професионалисти със значителни печатни умения. Обиск в северозападна България, проведен през юни 2005 от правоприлагащи органи на българските и американските тайни служби завърши с конфискацията на близо 3 милиона фалшиви щатски долара от високо качество в банкноти от 100 долара. (ref B). Това е второто по големина изземане на фалшива валута в европейската история.
5. (C) Разследвания на американска територия на преходни криминални групировки доведоха да успешното разбиване на значителни нарко-трафикантни организации, ръководени от български граждани в Лос Анжелис и Тампа. Тези групировки са внесли в САЩ огромни количества (килограми и дози) от кокаин и екстази. Те са имали нарко връзки чрез Амстердам и неясна финансова подкрепа от някакъв израелски гражданин. Докато повечето от членовете на тези групировки са осъдени и лежат в американски затвори, трима от тези с обвинения в Калифорния и Флорида са успели да избягат и може да са се завърнали в България за да се възползват от днешната политика на страната си да не екстрадира свои граждани. Тримата са ПЕТКО АНГЕЛОВ ПЕТКОВ (български гражданин, роден на 25-ти май, 1959 г.) и СТЕФАН ЦВЕТАНОВ СТОЯНОВ (български гражданин, роден на 9-ти януари, 1966 г.
6. (SBU) Чрез други разследвания в САЩ са идентифицирани български граждани, които произвеждат и продават фалшиви лични документи използвани в организирани банкови и ипотечни измами, измами с кредитни карти и незаконно вкарване в страната на емигранти.
КОЙ КОЙ Е В БЪЛГАРСКАТА ОРГАНИЗИРАНА ПРЕСТЪПНОСТ
7. (C) От падането на комунизма през 1989 г. и бурните 90 години, сцената на организираната престъпност в България претърпя значителни промени, точно като българският икономически, политически и обществен ландшафт. Именитостта на доайена до преди време на българската организирана престъпност – МУЛТИГРУП (МГ) драматично залезе след убийството на лидера му, Илия Павлов през 2003 г. МГ направи активни опити да превърне някои от дейностите си в законна бизнес група, концентрирана върху управлението на големите активи придобити по времето на нейния апогей. Групировката назначи американски лобист с цел подобряване на имиджа на МГ. Бившите оперативни работници на МГ основаха другите две основни криминални групировки - ВИС и СИК, които вече се разпаднаха, но останките им все още се занимават с организирани криминални действия. Въпреки това, присъствието и влиянието на техните останки/наследници сякаш залязва тъй като членовете непрекъснато сменят групировките на които са верни в зависимост от личните си бизнес интереси.
Изгряващата звезда на българската организирана престъпност, групировката ТИМ, базирана във Варна, все повече заприличва на МУЛТИГРУП в усилията си да проникне колкото може повече незаконни сектори, Сега ТИМ и дъщерната им бизнес империя са една от най-големите и сериозни икономически грижи на България.
Изгряващата звезда на българската организирана престъпност, групировката ТИМ, базирана във Варна, все повече заприличва на МУЛТИГРУП в усилията си да проникне колкото може повече незаконни сектори, Сега ТИМ и дъщерната им бизнес империя са една от най-големите и сериозни икономически грижи на България.
A. (C) ТИМ – новият лидер на българската ОП. Основана във Варна през 1993 г., за ТИМ се говори, че е създадена от десет бивши „тюлени“, които са служили в елитно военно поделение преди то да бъде разпуснато в ранните 90 години. ТИМ запълни вакуума, създаден след упадъка на Мултигруп, който последва убийството на Илия Павлов през 2003 г. Името на групата се смята за съкращение от инициалите от първите имена на трите й основни фигури: ТИХОМИР ИВАНОВ МИТЕВ (български гражданин, роден на 10-ти октомври 1958 г.), ИВО КАМЕНОВ ГЕОРГИЕВ (български гражданин, роден на 26-ти септември, 1969 г.) и МАРИН ВЕЛИКОВ МИТЕВ (български гражданин, роден на 5-ти октомври, 1957 г.). Смята се също, че 12 души контролират всички фирми на ТИМ – които към 2003 г. наброяват над 150 с над 10 000 служители – като всеки от тези 12 има фиксирани акции в авоарите и управлява различни сектори от бизнес империята на групировката. Въпреки, че се опитват да изградят имидж на чисто законна бизнес групировка, ТИМ продължават да поддържат строга тайнственост по отношение на корпоративната си структура и собственост, като същевременно техните фирми и подразделения са обвързани с много сложни отношения. Като групировка на организираната престъпност, ТИМ се занимава с широк спектър от криминални дейности – изнудване и рекет, заплахи, проституция, залагания, трафик на наркотици, кражби на коли и трафик на крадени автомобили.
Основната база на ТИМ – Варна има значително руско население и се смята, че ТИМ имат връзки с руската организиран престъпност, включително известния руски престъпник МАЙКЪЛ ЧОРНИ (виж раздела РУСКО ВЛИЯНИЕ). Тихомир Митев контролира промишлените дейности на ТИМ, неговият по-голям брат Марин се занимава с основните бизнес интереси на групировката във Варна и околността, докато Иво Георгиев има за задача дейностите на ТИМ в София и финансовите интереси на групировката. Други членове на тази групировка, които би трябвало да отбележим са: МИРОСЛАВ ПЕТРОВ НЕСТОРОВ (български гражданин, роден на 12-ти март, 1964 г.) – той се занимава със стратегическото планиране на групата и е и директор на най-големия филиал на ТИМ в областта на услугите – МУСТАНГ ХОЛДИНГ; ЙОРДАН ДИМИТРОВ ЙОРДАНОВ (български гражданин, роден на 24-ти ноември, 1974 г.), занимаващ се с медийните интереси на ТИМ и член на борда на Мустанг, и НИКОЛАЙ БОЖИДАРОВ НИКОЛОВ (български гражданин, роден на 28-ми август, 1949 г.) – изпълнителен директор на Мустанг и съпруг на главния архитект на Варна. Първоначалните дейности на ТИМ се развиха около събирането на лоши заеми – вид бизнес, който допринесе за отрицателния обществен облик на групировката, но все още си остава една от основните й дейности плюс предоставяне на услуги свързани с охрана в област Варна. В средата на 90-те, групировката се разклони към земеделие и хранителни продукти, и настоящите й интереси включват съхранение на зърно, отглеждане на бройлери, както и винарската изба СУХИНДОЛ (чрез фирмата СЕВЕРКО-ГЪМЗА) – избата произвежда основно червени вина за местния пазар и за износ. Във Варна ТИМ са навсякъде. Медийните им интереси включват телевизия М-САТ (телевизионен канал базиран във Варна, излъчващ в цялата стана по кабел и сателит), още 5 кабелни телевизионни станции, 2 кабелни телевизионни оператора, радио Алфа (което излъчва и в цялата страна), вестник „Черно море“ (вестникът с най-голям тираж във Варна и областта) и рекламна агенция, която обслужва тези медийни интереси. ТИМ също притежават вериги от ресторанти, кинозали, магазини за филми под наем, спортни центрове, клубове за интернет залагания и бинго зали. Наскоро започнаха голям проект наречен АЛЕЯ ПЪРВА където се планират 7 хотела, 500 заведения за хранене и забавление, и 300 магазина на площ от 250 акра на ивица на черноморския бряг близо до Варна. ТИМ контролира едни от най-големите кариери за инертни материали, и чрез търговското си дружество ХИМИМПОРТ има и значителен дял в производството и продажбите на изкуствени торове, нефтени продукти и химикали. Точно ХИМИМПОРТ имаше важно участие и подпомогна придобиването от ТИМ на ЦЕНТРАЛНА КООПЕРАТИВНА БАНКА (ЦКБ), всъщност най-значимата придобивка на ТИМ досега. След ЦКБ, ТИМ продължиха да разширяват операциите си във финансовия сектор, включително чрез застрахователната компания АРМЕЕЦ. Отново чрез ХИМИМПОРТ, през 2002 г., ТИМ придобиха мажоритарен дял в Нютон Файненшъл Мениджмент БГ, притежател на българската пенсионна застрахователна компания СИЛА. От тогава Нютон се преименуваха на ЦКБ ГРУП АСЕТС МЕНИДЖМЕНТ. ТИМ се възползваха от значителното си присъствие във финансовия сектор и въведоха пазаруване на едно място – комбинирано банкиране, застраховки и пенсионни застраховки. През 2003 г., ХИМИМПОРТ купи 49% от втория по големина самолетен превозвач в България – ХЕМУС ЕЪР, като по-късно придоби всичките 100% от Хемус. През 2004 г. ХИМИМПОРТ също придоби 100% от една по-малка авиокомпания VIAGGIO; тази придобивка беше одобрена от най-големият акционер във Viaggio, ТОДОР БАТКОВ ( виж раздела РУСКО ВЛИЯНИЕ), който е адвокат на Майкъл Чорни и негов личен представител. Смята се, че с тази комбинирана собственост в Хемус и Viaggio, ТИМ насочват апетита си към официалния български превозвач България Еър, който скоро ще бъде приватизиран.
B. (C) ВАИ ХОЛДИНГС (преди това ВИС и ВИС 2). Основана през 1991г. от бившия борец Васил Илиев. Инициалите на групировката са съкращение от Васил Илиев Секюрити. След като е отнет лицензът на групировката да извършва охранителни услуги, тя е преименувана на ВИС 2. През 1994 г. Илиев основава във Враца брокерска фирма ИМПЕРИАЛ. През 1995 г. Илиев е застрелян и по-малкият му брат ГЕОРГИ АНДРЕЕВ ИЛИЕВ (български гражданин, роден на 22-ри юли 1966 г. с прякор „ЖОРО“) поема ръководството на ВИС 2, и след това го преименува. „Жоро“ Илиев е признатият лидер на ВАИ, но неговият лейтенант НИКОЛАЙ МИРЧОВ ЦВЕТИН ((български гражданин, роден на 27-ми февруари 1965 г. с прякори „БЛИЗНАКА“ и „КОКО“) се счита за човека контролиращ голямата част от фирмите и дейностите на групировката. Други високопоставени членове на ВАИ са: АНТОН БОЯНОВ и ПЛАМЕН ВАСИЛЕВ ТИМЕВ ((български гражданин, роден на 2-ри март 1952 г. с прякор „ГАНДИ“). През ноември 2003 г. друг високопоставен член на ВАИ, МЕТОДИ ЗЛАТАНОВ МЕТОДИЕВ ((български гражданин, роден на 12-ти октомври, 1965 г. с прякор „МЕТО ИЛИЯНСКИ“) изчезна и докато полицията смята, че е или отвлечен или убит, възможно е също така той да се укрива. Преди да бъде прострелян и убит в Амстердам, през декември 2003 г., КОНСТАНТИН ДИМИТРОВ (български гражданин, роден на 21-ви ноември 1970 г. с прякор „САМОКОВЕЦА“) беше един от най-големите трафиканти в страната и най-важният наркобарон. Георги Илиев, роднина на Димитров, му беше дясна ръка. След убийството на Димитров, ВАИ успяха да задържат контрола над пазара на наркотици чрез АНТОН ПЕТРОВ МИЛТЕНОВ (български гражданин, роден на 28-ми октомври 1973 г. с прякор „КЛЮНА“), за който се смята, че е наследил нарко и контрабандните операции на Димитров. Друг от най-близките приятели на Георги Илиев, ДИМИТЪР ИЛИЕВ ДЖАМОВ (български гражданин, роден на 15-ти юли 1960 г.) се свързва с търговия с наркотици в централна и южна България. Смята се, че Джамов, който е и вносител на природен газ от Русия, се занимава и с пране на пари и има връзки с турската организирана престъпност чрез турския бизнесмен ЯМАН ХАКИ НАМЛИ. Джамов е бивш борец и е започнал кариерата си в организираната престъпност като шофьор на починалия Илия Павлов (виж МУЛТИГРУП). Като най-големият играч на пазара на наркотици ВАИ контролира пътищата на трафика им, производствените обекти и разпространителките мрежи. Групировката се занимава и с трафик на крадени автомобили от западна Европа към бившия Съветски съюз. Други криминални дейности включват изнудване и рекет, незаконна търговия с оръжие, залагания, проституция и контрабанда.
ВАИ имат и широки бизнес интереси в туризма, финансовия сектор, развлекателната индустрия и различни производства. Те контролират застрахователната компания ЮПИТЕР, както и СЛЪНЧЕВ БРЯГ, един от най-големите български черноморски курорти, северно от Бургас. Групировката също притежава няколко местни футболни отбора и агенцията за манекени ЕКСГАУНД МОДЪЛИНГ ЕЙДЖЪНСИ, която е контролирана от ВАИ чрез съпругата на Георги Илиев МАРИЯ ДЕЛЧЕВА ИЛИЕВА (българска гражданка, родена на 25-ти май, 1973 г. известна още и като МАРИЯ ДЕЛЧЕВА ПЕНЕЛОВА).
ВАИ имат и широки бизнес интереси в туризма, финансовия сектор, развлекателната индустрия и различни производства. Те контролират застрахователната компания ЮПИТЕР, както и СЛЪНЧЕВ БРЯГ, един от най-големите български черноморски курорти, северно от Бургас. Групировката също притежава няколко местни футболни отбора и агенцията за манекени ЕКСГАУНД МОДЪЛИНГ ЕЙДЖЪНСИ, която е контролирана от ВАИ чрез съпругата на Георги Илиев МАРИЯ ДЕЛЧЕВА ИЛИЕВА (българска гражданка, родена на 25-ти май, 1973 г. известна още и като МАРИЯ ДЕЛЧЕВА ПЕНЕЛОВА).
C. (C) ИНТЕРГРУП (бивша СИК) КРАСИМИР АНДРЕЕВ МАРИНОВ (български гражданин, роден на 6-ти май, 1964 г. с прякор „ГОЛЕМИЯ МАРГИН), настоящ президент на групировката и също бивш борец, основава СИК (по-късно ИНТЕРГРУП) с МЛАДЕН МИХАЛЕВ (български гражданин, роден на 13-ти октомври, 1964 г. с прякор „МАДЖО“), също бивш борец, и с РУМЕН ГОЦОВ НИКОЛОВ (български гражданин, роден на 26-ти май, 1962 г. с прякор „ПАШАТА“). Николов е свързан и със СЪЮЗА НА БИВШИТЕ КОМАНДОСИ (виж по-долу). Смята се, че тарторът на всички операции на групировката е ВЕНЦИСЛАВ ДИМИТРОВ СТЕФАНОВ (български гражданин, роден на 28-ми ноември, 1949 г.). През април, 2004 г., синът му, ДИМИТЪТ ВЕНЦИСЛАВОВ ДИМИТРОВ (български гражданин, роден на 15-ти септември, 1980 г.) е отвлечен и не е намерен и досега. Незаконните действия на Интергруп включват наркотици (главно хероин), финансови измами (чрез връзки с компанията за финансови гаранции АМИГОС), кражби на коли, трафик на крадени автомобили, контрабанда, изнудване, рекет и проституция.
Нарко интересите на групировката се управляват главно чрез връзките й с ИВАН ТОДОРОВ (виж АМИГОС), който се счита за един от най-големите нарко трафиканти на Балканите. КИРИЛ СОТИРОВ КИРОВ (български гражданин, роден на 10-ти декември, 1953 г. с прякор „ЯПОНЕЦА“) е известен цигански барон, свързан с ИНТЕРГРУП и с ИВАН ТОДОРОВ (виж АМИГОС). Киров, който се занимава и с трафик на хора и нелегални емигранти, едва оживя след втори опит за убийство през април, 2005 г. Законните бизнес интереси на групировката варират от спортни клубове (СЛАВИЯ) до банки (ПЪРВА ИЗТОЧНА МЕЖДУНАРОДНА БАНКА) и от застраховки, нефт, търговия с метали, строителство и недвижими имоти (СОФИЙСКИ ИМОТИ) до агенция за манекени (ВИЗАЖ). Венцислав е менажер на футболен клуб Славия в София. ГЕОРГИ ЛИАЛЕВ е също в управителния съвет на Славия. Бащата на Лиалев, Траян Лиалев е декан на юридическия факултет към Югозападния университет в Благоевград. Чрез Лиалев Румен Николов и Младен Михалев са получили дипломи за юристи. Георги Лиалев е и бизнес партньор на РУМЕН ГАЙТАНСКИ (български гражданин с прякор „ВЪЛКА“), чиято фирма WOLF 96 също е свързана с Интергруп. Фирмата за манекени Visages е основана през 1994 г. от ЕВГЕНИЯ ГЕОРГИЕВА КАЛКАНДЖИЕВА (българска гражданка, родена на 20-ти февруари 1975 г.). Смята се за близка на Красимир Маринов. Застрахователната компания на групировката, БУЛ ИНС, е най-големият застраховател в България. Секторът в който законните и незаконните действия на групировката се сливат са кражбите и застраховането на коли. Автомобили със специални стикери на БУЛ ИНС са защитени от кражби, тези, които не са застраховани от БУЛ ИНС се считат за свободни да бъдат откраднати. Интергруп също контролират и ЮНИЪН ИНШУРЪНС.
Нарко интересите на групировката се управляват главно чрез връзките й с ИВАН ТОДОРОВ (виж АМИГОС), който се счита за един от най-големите нарко трафиканти на Балканите. КИРИЛ СОТИРОВ КИРОВ (български гражданин, роден на 10-ти декември, 1953 г. с прякор „ЯПОНЕЦА“) е известен цигански барон, свързан с ИНТЕРГРУП и с ИВАН ТОДОРОВ (виж АМИГОС). Киров, който се занимава и с трафик на хора и нелегални емигранти, едва оживя след втори опит за убийство през април, 2005 г. Законните бизнес интереси на групировката варират от спортни клубове (СЛАВИЯ) до банки (ПЪРВА ИЗТОЧНА МЕЖДУНАРОДНА БАНКА) и от застраховки, нефт, търговия с метали, строителство и недвижими имоти (СОФИЙСКИ ИМОТИ) до агенция за манекени (ВИЗАЖ). Венцислав е менажер на футболен клуб Славия в София. ГЕОРГИ ЛИАЛЕВ е също в управителния съвет на Славия. Бащата на Лиалев, Траян Лиалев е декан на юридическия факултет към Югозападния университет в Благоевград. Чрез Лиалев Румен Николов и Младен Михалев са получили дипломи за юристи. Георги Лиалев е и бизнес партньор на РУМЕН ГАЙТАНСКИ (български гражданин с прякор „ВЪЛКА“), чиято фирма WOLF 96 също е свързана с Интергруп. Фирмата за манекени Visages е основана през 1994 г. от ЕВГЕНИЯ ГЕОРГИЕВА КАЛКАНДЖИЕВА (българска гражданка, родена на 20-ти февруари 1975 г.). Смята се за близка на Красимир Маринов. Застрахователната компания на групировката, БУЛ ИНС, е най-големият застраховател в България. Секторът в който законните и незаконните действия на групировката се сливат са кражбите и застраховането на коли. Автомобили със специални стикери на БУЛ ИНС са защитени от кражби, тези, които не са застраховани от БУЛ ИНС се считат за свободни да бъдат откраднати. Интергруп също контролират и ЮНИЪН ИНШУРЪНС.
D. (C) МУЛТИГРУП (МГ) Основателят на МГ и неин президент, ИЛИЯ ПАВЛОВ (българин по произход, натурализиран американски гражданин, роден на 6-ти август, 1960 г.) беше застрелян в София на 7-ми март, 2003 г. Павлов беше започнал да пренасочва най-голямата групировка на организираната престъпност, МГ, към легален бизнес, състоящ се от стотици дъщерни компании с интереси в природни ресурси и минно дело, туризъм, финанси, различни производства и хранителни продукти. През 2001 г., Павлов и неговата заместничка БОЯНА ГЕОРГИЕВА ПОПОВА (българска гражданка, родена на 17-ти октомври 1960 г.) основават МГ АСЕТ КЪМПАНИ (МГ АМ) и установяват легална, международно приета структура на управление. Компанията майка на МГ АМ, МГ ВЕНЧЪРС (регистрирана и с бизнес адрес в Делауер) беше притежавана по равно от Павлов и Попова. След убийството на Павлов, Попова стана изпълнителен директор на групировката, а делът от 50% на Павлов беше прехвърлен на вдовицата му ДАРИНА ПАВЛОВА (българка по произход, натурализира американска гражданка, родена на 17-ти октомври, 1960 г.) и на децата им чрез тръста Павлови. Бащата на Павлов ПАВЕЛ НАЙДЕНОВ (български гражданин, роден на 16-ти юни, 1936 г.) беше много активен в управлението на МГ. Но след смъртта на сина му и последвалите разправии с Попова и Павлова, Найденов подаде оставка от всички постове в МГ и създаде собствен холдинг КРЕПОСТ 2002. През 2004 г. Попова обяви, че МГ ще започне разпродажба на голяма част от авоарите си за да може да се фокусира главно върху инвестиционни проекти и туризъм. Имаше и сведения, че Попова е предпочела да пренасочи усилията на групировката от Балканите към дейности в САЩ. Докато бизнесът на МГ на Балканите е доста западащ, една от компаниите й с най-висок профил си остава БАЛКАНТУРИСТ, най-голямата туристическа фирма в България, обслужваща главно туристи от западна Европа. ДИМИТЪР ХРИСТОВ ИВАНОВ (български гражданин, роден на 17-ти април 1951 г.) беше президент на първия филиал на МГ (МУЛТИАРТ) през ранните 90, преди за стане вицепрезидент на МГ, подчинен на Павлов. Откакто напусна МГ, Иванов е директор на ЕВРОПА ХОЛДИНГС. Друг бивш служител на МГ, САШО ГЕОРГИЕВ ДОНЧЕВ (български гражданин, роден на 7-ми септември 1953 г.) е изпълнителен директор на ОВЕРГАЗ. Овергаз беше създаден през 1992 г. като джойнт венчър между МГ и руската държавна компания ГАЗПРОМ . Компанията бързо се превърна в най-важният вносител и доставчик на природен газ в България. Компанията е свързана с ВАИ ХОЛДИНГС чрез ЮПИТЕР ИНШУРЪНС където Овергаз има 53% дял. Дейностите на Юпитер включват застраховане срещу финансов риск, застраховане на товари и на газопроводи. ЮРИ ВЯХИРЕВ, син на бившия директор на Газпром, РЕМ ВЯХИРЕВ, е близък съдружник на Дончев и партньор в Овергаз.
E. СЪЮЗ НА БИВШИТЕ КОМАНДОСИ (още познат като СПАРТАК). АЛЕКСЕЙ ИЛИЕВ ПЕТРОВ (български гражданин, роден на 23-ти април, 1962 г.) е бивш офицер в елитната специална част за борба срещу тероризма. Той и групировката му от бивши военни командоси (известни и като „барети“) се занимават много активно със застрахователна дейност чрез ЛЕВСКИ СПАРТАК ИНШУРЪНС (известна преди това като „АПОЛО § БАЛКАН“ и „СПАРТАК“). Петров притежава и най-голямата таксиметрова фирма в София, ТАКСИ ЕКСПРЕС, с повече от 3 500 коли. Смята се, че участието на Петров в Такси С Експрес, Левски Спартак и други компании с името Спартак се прикрива като израелска инвестиция. Петров е тясно свързан с бившия израелски посланик в София Дейвид Коен. Друг член на групировката ЗЛАТОМИР ИВАНОВ (български гражданин с прякор „БАРЕТАТА“) беше директор на АПОЛО § БАЛКАН, а в момента е директор на АРКУС СЕКЮРИТИ. Иванов ръководи контрабандните дейности на групировката, както и изнудването и рекета. Смята се, че групировката има най-голям дял в бизнеса за ескорт и интимни услуги в София, които са всъщност прикритие на проституция и трафик на жени с цел сексуална експлоатация.
F. (C) НОВЕ ХОЛДИНГС ВАСИЛ КРУМОВ БОЖКОВ (български гражданин, роден на 29-ти юли 1956 г. с прякор „ЧЕРЕПА“) основава първата си компания през 1990 г., преди да разшири настоящата си бизнес империя НОВЕ ХОЛДИНГС, състояща се от 30 фирми и множество филиали. Законните бизнес интереси на НОВЕ включват залагания (бинго зали, казина, и популярната лотария ЕВРОФУТБОЛ) и безмитни магазини. Божков притежава и футболен клуб ЦСКА в София и агенцията за манекени ДЖЕЙ МОДЪЛС. Смята се, че той контролира и РИСК ИНДЖИНИЪРИНГ, който преди беше част от империята на МГ. Множеството медийни връзки на Божков включват ТОШО ТОШЕВ (главен редактор и управляващ директор на най-високо тиражния ежедневник ТРУД), КЕВОРК КЕВОРКЯН (известен телевизионен водещ в държавната телевизия БНТ), и РАДОСВЕТ РАДЕВ (собственик на ДАРИК РАДИО). През 2002 г. НОВЕ продаде мажоритарния дял от Еврофутбол на гръцкия милиардер СОКРАТИС КОКАЛИС, което намали делът на холдинга на 49%. Божков благодари публично на известния бизнесмен СПАС РУСЕВ за помощта му да се сключи сделката. Русев е тясно свързан с НДСВ. Смята се, че като близък приятел и личен съветник на премиера Симеон Сакскобургготски, Русев е създател на икономическия екип на НДСВ, включително участието на Милен Велчев (министър на финансите) и Николай Василев (вицепремиер и министър на транспорта). Казината на НОВЕ включват ЛОНДОН ЛАЗИНО в хотел Радисън в София и РИЛА КАЗИНО в хотел Рила, също в София. Смята се, че Божков контролира хотел Рила чрез ИРЕНА МАРИНОВА (директор и собственик на хотел Риел 99 и член на управителния борд на хотела) и чрез АНТОНИ НАУМОВ (директор на управата на хотела). Маринова има и дялове в БУЛ ИНС (виж ИНТЕРГРУП), заедно с Божков (чрез НОВЕ). Наумов и Божков са съдружници в няколко фирми, включително баскетболния отбор на ЦСКА. Божков използва влиянието си за да блокира трансфера на около 49% от хотел Рила, предмет на проточила се реституция, за която претендира българската еврейска общност. Незаконните дейности на Божков включват пране на пари, приватизационни измами, заплахи, изнудване и рекет. Божков е свързан и с ИНТЕРГРУП (чрез фирмата АЙДЖИЕМ, която той притежава в съдружие с МЛАДЕН МИХАЛЕВ и чрез делът на НОВЕ в БУЛ ИНС) и с ИВАН ТОДОРОВ (виж ИНТЕРГРУП и АМИГОС).
G. (C) ДЗИ (бивша банка Росексим) ЕМИЛ АЛЕКСАНДРОВ КЮЛЕВ (български гражданин, роден на 5-ти юни 1957 г.) спечели огромното си богатство чрез Турист Спортс Банк (също известна като банка ТС), която банкрутира при неговото управление. През 1995 г. той основа БЪЛГАРО-РУСКА ИНВЕСТИЦИОННА БАНКА (наричана още БАНКА БРИ). След напускането на банка БРИ през 1997 г. Кюлев стана член на борда на директорите на застрахователната компания БУЛСТРАД. През 1998 г. Кюлев купи базираната в Пловдив банка Тракия, която пререгистрира като БАНКА РОСЕКСИМ. Най-големият клиент на Росексим е българското правителство, което направлява всички данъчни, митнически и акцизни плащания през нея. Банката също осъществява финансовите услуги на Руската компания ЛУКОЙЛ и на МОБИЛТЕЛ (най-големият оператор на мобилни телефони в България, познат още като МТЕЛ). Освен връзките на Кюлев с МАЙКЪЛ ЧОРНИ (виж РУСКО ВЛИЯНИЕ) чрез МТЕЛ, ТОДОР БАТКОВ (адвокат и личен представител на Майкъл Чорни) беше член на борда на директорите на банка Росексим до 2002 г. През 2004 г. банка Росексим беше преименувана на ДЗИ, което беше завършек на сливането на Росексим и ДЗИ, бившата държавна застрахователна компания, която Кюлев придоби през 2002 г. Криминалните дейности на Кюлев включват измами и пране на пари. Кюлев нае съвсем наскоро лобистка и ПР група от САЩ със задачата да изчисти обществения му облик. Като част от тази кампания той основа наскоро Фондация ДЗИ за борба срещу трафика на хора. Подозира се, че Кюлев използва фондацията като канал за пране на пари.
H. (C) ЛИТЕКС КОМЕРС Още един бивш борец и настоящ член на Българската федерация по борба ГРИША ДАНАИЛОВ ГАНЧЕВ (български гражданин, роден на 10-ти декември, 1962 г.), притежава верига бензиностанции и е един от тримата най-големи вносители на петрол в България. Фирмата му ЛИТЕКС КОМЕРС притежава и марката плодови сокове QUEEN. Ганчев беше един от първите лидери на организираната престъпност, който използва спортен отбор за пране на пари, чрез футболния клуб ЛИТЕКС в град Ловеч. Литекс е собственик и на базираната в Ловеч изба ВИНАЛ, която произвежда вино за местна консумация и износ, и водка за износ. Незаконните дейности на Литекс са свързани с контрабанда на петрол, финансови измами, пране на пари, изнудване и рекет.
H. (C) ЛИТЕКС КОМЕРС Още един бивш борец и настоящ член на Българската федерация по борба ГРИША ДАНАИЛОВ ГАНЧЕВ (български гражданин, роден на 10-ти декември, 1962 г.), притежава верига бензиностанции и е един от тримата най-големи вносители на петрол в България. Фирмата му ЛИТЕКС КОМЕРС притежава и марката плодови сокове QUEEN. Ганчев беше един от първите лидери на организираната престъпност, който използва спортен отбор за пране на пари, чрез футболния клуб ЛИТЕКС в град Ловеч. Литекс е собственик и на базираната в Ловеч изба ВИНАЛ, която произвежда вино за местна консумация и износ, и водка за износ. Незаконните дейности на Литекс са свързани с контрабанда на петрол, финансови измами, пране на пари, изнудване и рекет.
I. (C) ГРУПИРОВКА МИГ (позната и като КУЛ ПАС). ГРУПИРОВКАТА МИГ се ръководи от СЛАВЧО ПЕНЧЕВ БИНЕВ (български гражданин, роден на 10-ти декември, 1965 г. с прякор „СЛАВИ“). Притежава над 30 нощни клуба, барове и ресторанти в София, включително и много популярните нощни заведения БИАД, ДАЛИ, И БИБЛИОТЕКА. ГЕОРГИ СТОЯНОВ (български гражданин) и МИХАИЛ СТЕФАНОВ (български гражданин) са двамата заместници на „Слави“. Бизнес интересите на групировката включват и строителство и туризъм. Тя оперира и като тур оператор чрез своя комплекс за развлечения КУЛ ПЛЕЙС. Криминалните дейности на групировката включват проституция, наркотици и трафик на крадени автомобили.
I. (C) ГРУПИРОВКА МИГ (позната и като КУЛ ПАС). ГРУПИРОВКАТА МИГ се ръководи от СЛАВЧО ПЕНЧЕВ БИНЕВ (български гражданин, роден на 10-ти декември, 1965 г. с прякор „СЛАВИ“). Притежава над 30 нощни клуба, барове и ресторанти в София, включително и много популярните нощни заведения БИАД, ДАЛИ, И БИБЛИОТЕКА. ГЕОРГИ СТОЯНОВ (български гражданин) и МИХАИЛ СТЕФАНОВ (български гражданин) са двамата заместници на „Слави“. Бизнес интересите на групировката включват и строителство и туризъм. Тя оперира и като тур оператор чрез своя комплекс за развлечения КУЛ ПЛЕЙС. Криминалните дейности на групировката включват проституция, наркотици и трафик на крадени автомобили.
J. (C) АМИГОС ИВАН ТОДОРОВ (български гражданин, роден на 27-ми декември 1964 г.с прякор ДОКТОРА) вече не е част от Амигос, но все още поддържа тесни връзки с групата, особено при прането на пари и други финансови услуги. ПЕТЪР ХРИСТОВ ПЕТРОВ (български гражданин, роден на 15-ти септември 1969 г.), братовчед на МЛАДЕН МИХАЛЕВ (виж ИНТЕРГРУП), е близък сътрудник на Тодоров и активен участник в прането на пари и други финансови престъпления.
J. (C) АМИГОС ИВАН ТОДОРОВ (български гражданин, роден на 27-ми декември 1964 г.с прякор ДОКТОРА) вече не е част от Амигос, но все още поддържа тесни връзки с групата, особено при прането на пари и други финансови услуги. ПЕТЪР ХРИСТОВ ПЕТРОВ (български гражданин, роден на 15-ти септември 1969 г.), братовчед на МЛАДЕН МИХАЛЕВ (виж ИНТЕРГРУП), е близък сътрудник на Тодоров и активен участник в прането на пари и други финансови престъпления.
K. (C) ВЪЗРАЖДАНЕ БИЗНЕС КЛУБ БИЗНЕС КЛУБ ВЪЗРАЖДАНЕ е основан през 2001 г. съвместно от ВАСИЛ БОЖКОВ (виж НОВЕ ХОЛДИНГС), ЕМИЛ КЮЛЕВ (виж ДЗИ), ИЛИЯ ПАВЛОВ (виж МУЛТИГРУП), БОРИСЛАВ ДИОНИСИЕВ, ДОБРОМИР ГУЩЕРОВ, ПЕТЬО БЛЪСКОВ (собственик на седмичника 168 ЧАСА), ТОШО ТОШЕВ (главен редактор и изпълнителен директор на ТРУД, най-големият по тираж всекидневник в България), и РАДОСВЕТ РАДЕВ (собственик на ДАРИК РАДИО). След смъртта на Павлов през 2003 г., и напускането на Гущеров и Дионисиев през 2004 г., бизнес клубът загуби предишната си значимост, но все още служи като форум за сътрудничество на множество икономически интереси. Гущеров, собственикът на застрахователната компания ОРЕЛ Г и Дионисиев напуснаха клуба през 2004 г., когато Гущеров и ПЕТЪР МАНДЖУКОВ основаха клуб на предприемачите, съперник на Възраждане и също наречен Възраждане. Манджуков, търговец на оръжие, е собственик на ПМ ГРУП, компанията-майка на ИНФОМЕДИА, на ПМ ПРЕС (издател на социалистическия всекидневник ДУМА), и на БАЛКАН БЪЛГАРСКА ТЕЛЕВИЗИЯ (ББТ). МАШИНЕКСПОРТ, компания собственост на Манджуков и Дионисиев, е спомената в доклада Duelfer заради връзките й с режима на Саддам Хюсеин в Ирак.
L. (C) РУСКО ВЛИЯНИЕ Русия продължава да упражнява значително влияние върху българската икономика чрез вноса на енергия, включително суров нефт, природен газ и ядрено гориво. Когато единственият в България дистрибутор на дребно на газ, Петрол АД беше приватизиран, той попадна под контрола на руския бизнесмен ДЕНИС ЕРШОВ. През август 2000 г. на ЕРШОВ му беше е забранено да влиза в България с мотив, че е заплаха за националната сигурност на страната, но забраната е отменена през 2004 г., след като е обжалвана. Ершов, бивш заместник-председател на една от най-големите фирми, износители на руски суров петрол, създаде групата Нафтекс през 1991 г., и Петрол АД стана част от нея. Ершов е бил член на НАФТЕКС ХОЛДИНГ БЪЛГАРИЯ (сега ПЕТРОЛ ХОЛДИНГ), и е член на надзорния съвет на ПЕТРОЛ АД. Въпреки, че вече не е собственик на българския телефонен оператор МОБИЛТЕЛ (MТЕЛ), смята се, че руският мафиот Майкъл Чорни е запазил влияние в дружеството чрез връзките си с членовете на австрийския Мобилтел холдинг. Придобитата от австрийската банка BAWAG през 2002 г. компания Мобилтел бе продадена през юли 2004 г. в най-голямото по рода си ливъридж изкупуване в централна и източна Европа. Сделката беше планирана и осъществена през българското акционерно дружество БИДКО. БИДКО дели офис сграда с адвоката на Чорни ТОДОР БАТКОВ, който все още е член на борда на МТЕЛ,
Твърди се, че Батков и други представители на Чорни са оказали натиск върху българското правителство да отложи издаването на лиценз на БТК като трети мобилен оператор през юли 2004 г. И наистина, Върховният административен съд реши на15-ти юли 2004 г. да отложи старта на лиценза на БТК. Решението на съда показва, че Чорни все още контролира МТЕЛ, тъй като съдията, председателстващ състава на Върховния административен по случая БТК, отмени и решението на правителството за забрана на Чорни да влиза в страната.
Освен това Чорни има връзка с ЕМИЛ КЮЛЕВ (виж ДЗИ) чрез интереси си в ДЗИ БАНК (преди Росексим Банк), която е собственост на Кюлев. Тодор Батков беше член на борда на директорите на Росексим до 2003 г. Чорни също така поддържа влиянието си върху редица компании чрез прехвърляне на собствеността им на Батков. Тези организации включват футболния клуб ЛЕВСКИ, вестник СТАНДАРТ и хотел БАНКЯ ПАЛАС. Представител на ЛУКОЙЛ за България е ВАЛЕНТИН ЗЛАТЕВ. Руската петролна компания се счита за най-големия корпоративен данъкоплатец в България. Тя контролира и руския износ на нефт за България. Българските операции на Лукойл, чрез Златев, са заподозрени в тесни връзки с руското разузнаване и организирана престъпност.
Твърди се, че Батков и други представители на Чорни са оказали натиск върху българското правителство да отложи издаването на лиценз на БТК като трети мобилен оператор през юли 2004 г. И наистина, Върховният административен съд реши на15-ти юли 2004 г. да отложи старта на лиценза на БТК. Решението на съда показва, че Чорни все още контролира МТЕЛ, тъй като съдията, председателстващ състава на Върховния административен по случая БТК, отмени и решението на правителството за забрана на Чорни да влиза в страната.
Освен това Чорни има връзка с ЕМИЛ КЮЛЕВ (виж ДЗИ) чрез интереси си в ДЗИ БАНК (преди Росексим Банк), която е собственост на Кюлев. Тодор Батков беше член на борда на директорите на Росексим до 2003 г. Чорни също така поддържа влиянието си върху редица компании чрез прехвърляне на собствеността им на Батков. Тези организации включват футболния клуб ЛЕВСКИ, вестник СТАНДАРТ и хотел БАНКЯ ПАЛАС. Представител на ЛУКОЙЛ за България е ВАЛЕНТИН ЗЛАТЕВ. Руската петролна компания се счита за най-големия корпоративен данъкоплатец в България. Тя контролира и руския износ на нефт за България. Българските операции на Лукойл, чрез Златев, са заподозрени в тесни връзки с руското разузнаване и организирана престъпност.
M. (C) КОРПОРАЦИЯ АКБ. КОРПОРАЦИЯ АКБ ръководена от НИКОЛАЙ ЙОРДАНОВ БАНЕВ (български гражданин, роден на 16-ти август 1959 г.), участва главно в приватизацията на държавни производства. Нейните основни незаконни дейности включват приватизационни измами и корупция.
ПОЛИТИКА: ВРЪЗКА С ОРГАНИЗИРАНАТА ПРЕСТЪПНОСТ
8. (C) Организираната престъпност има корумпиращо влияние върху всички български институции, включително правителството, парламента и съдебната власт. В опит да запази влиянието си, независимо от това кой е на власт, представители на OП правят дарения на всички основни политически партии. Тъй като тези личности са разширили дейността си в законния бизнес, те се опитват – с известен успех – да си купят място в коридорите на властта. По време на парламентарните избори през 2001 г., редица влиятелни „бизнесмени“ като ВАСИЛ БОЖКОВ и ЕМИЛ КЮЛЕВ силно финансираха и по всякакъв начин подкрепиха кампанията на НДСВ. В началото на мандата, през 2001 г., министър-председателят Симеон Сакскобургготски проведе среща на високо равнище с членовете на “Възраждане“, на която покани Илия Павлов, Васил Божков, и др., да станат част от “бизнес консултативен съвет “съветващ правителството. По-късно същата година Кюлев подпомогна и финансирането на успешната президентска кампания на лидера на БСП Георги Първанов.
9. (C) Ахмед Доган, лидер на младшия коалиционен партньор в правителството, присъства на погребението на Илия Павлов през 2003 г., без дори да прави опит да прикрие близките си отношения с убития председател на Мултигруп. По време на предизборната кампания през 2005 г., интересите на бизнеса свързани с ОП (включително ЛУКОЙЛ и ОВЕРГАЗ на Сашо Дончев), Божков, Кюлев и други разпространиха подкрепа и пари в целия политически спектър, като се фокусираха главно върху НДСВ и БСП, в опит да гарантират защита на интересите си, независимо от резултата от гласуването.
10. (C) Под нивото на националното правителство и ръководството на основните политически партии, ОП „притежава“ много общини и отделни членове на парламента. Това пряко участие в политиката - за разлика от подкупа – е сравнително ново развитие на българската OП. ДОБРОМИР ГУЩЕРОВ, един от основателите на „Възраждане“ и основен спонсор на БСП, спечели място в парламента от листата на БСП тази година. Застрахователната компания на Гущеров беше една от фирмите, занимаващи се с изнудване и рекет в годините непосредствено след падането на комунизма. На общинско равнище, избор проведен по-рано тази година в град Свиленград на българо-турската граница доведе до пълното поглъщане на общинската администрация от личности, които полагат незначителни усилия да прикрият връзките си с могъщи контрабандни интереси. По същия начин, в регионалния център на Велинград, личности от OП контролират общинския съвет и кметството. Почти идентични сценарии се разиграха в половин дузина по-малки градове и села в България.
10. (C) Под нивото на националното правителство и ръководството на основните политически партии, ОП „притежава“ много общини и отделни членове на парламента. Това пряко участие в политиката - за разлика от подкупа – е сравнително ново развитие на българската OП. ДОБРОМИР ГУЩЕРОВ, един от основателите на „Възраждане“ и основен спонсор на БСП, спечели място в парламента от листата на БСП тази година. Застрахователната компания на Гущеров беше една от фирмите, занимаващи се с изнудване и рекет в годините непосредствено след падането на комунизма. На общинско равнище, избор проведен по-рано тази година в град Свиленград на българо-турската граница доведе до пълното поглъщане на общинската администрация от личности, които полагат незначителни усилия да прикрият връзките си с могъщи контрабандни интереси. По същия начин, в регионалния център на Велинград, личности от OП контролират общинския съвет и кметството. Почти идентични сценарии се разиграха в половин дузина по-малки градове и села в България.
КОМЕНТАР
11. (C) Въпреки постоянният натиск от страна на САЩ и ЕС, последните български правителства са направили много малко за ограничаване на наличието на организирана престъпност. В резултат на това ОП е увеличила влиянието си и е в състояние да действа буквално безнаказано. Българската общественост осъзнава корумпиращото влияние на ОП и е ясно, че хората са разочаровани от неспособността или нежеланието на правителствата им да се справят с проблема.
Ние продължаваме да предоставяме техническа помощ на реформистко мислещите елементи на българското правителство и съдебна система - и да говорим открито за необходимостта от борба с корупцията и организираната престъпност - но истинското политическо влияние по този въпрос принадлежи на ЕС. Забавяне на присъединяването на България ще бъде политически пагубно за новото правителство. Ако Европейският съюз използва това средство за да настоява не само за крайно необходимата основна съдебна реформа, но и за ефективното й прилагане, имаме основание за надежда, че през следващите години приливът ще започне бавно да се обръща срещу организираната престъпност.
Ние продължаваме да предоставяме техническа помощ на реформистко мислещите елементи на българското правителство и съдебна система - и да говорим открито за необходимостта от борба с корупцията и организираната престъпност - но истинското политическо влияние по този въпрос принадлежи на ЕС. Забавяне на присъединяването на България ще бъде политически пагубно за новото правителство. Ако Европейският съюз използва това средство за да настоява не само за крайно необходимата основна съдебна реформа, но и за ефективното й прилагане, имаме основание за надежда, че през следващите години приливът ще започне бавно да се обръща срещу организираната престъпност.
ПАРДЮ
7/7/2005 7:59 05SOFIA1207 Embassy Sofia CONFIDENTIAL 05SOFIA1046|05STATE99125
This record is a partial extract of the original cable.
The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 09 SOFIA 001207
SIPDIS
HOMELAND SECURITY PLEASE PASS TO SECRET SERVICE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2015
TAGS: PINR, KCRM, PGOV, EINV, ECON, KCOR, BU, Organized Crime
SUBJECT: (U) BULGARIAN ORGANIZED CRIME (C-CN5-00054)
REF: A. A. STATE 99125 B. B. SOFIA 1046
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JAMES PARDEW, FOR REASON 1.4(C).
7/7/2005 7:59 05SOFIA1207 Embassy Sofia CONFIDENTIAL 05SOFIA1046|05STATE99125
This record is a partial extract of the original cable.
The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 09 SOFIA 001207
SIPDIS
HOMELAND SECURITY PLEASE PASS TO SECRET SERVICE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2015
TAGS: PINR, KCRM, PGOV, EINV, ECON, KCOR, BU, Organized Crime
SUBJECT: (U) BULGARIAN ORGANIZED CRIME (C-CN5-00054)
REF: A. A. STATE 99125 B. B. SOFIA 1046
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JAMES PARDEW, FOR REASON 1.4(C).
1. (U) This cable is in response to ref A request for information about organized crime in Bulgaria and the Balkans. Where direct sources are not cited, connections are largely based on information from operational contacts and open-source publications.
———————– OVERVIEW AND ACTIVITIES ———————–
2. (SBU) The strength and immunity from the law of organized crime (OC) groups is arguably the most serious problem in Bulgaria today. OC activities underlie corruption and the ineffectiveness of the legal system in Bulgaria, and inhibit the country’s economic development. Bulgarian OC is particularly involved in international money laundering, drug trafficking, and counterfeiting. OC groups range from local street thugs involved in extortion to sophisticated international narcotic dealers and money launderers. An estimated 118 organized crime groups were operating in Bulgaria at the end of 2004, according to the National Service for Combating Organized Crime (NSBOP) of the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior (MoI), though many of these groups are relatively small and the landscape is dominated by a handful of big players. Organized crime continues to be pervasive in many spheres of Bulgarian life, despite domestic and international efforts to combat it. To date, not a single major OC figure has been punished by the Bulgarian legal system, despite an on-going series of OC-related assassinations. U.S. law enforcement agencies with offices in Sofia are supporting the effort to reduce OC in Bulgaria. The Fraud Prevention Unit in Embassy Sofia’s Consular Section maintains a list of known and suspected major organized crime figures, and Embassy Sofia has an aggressive policy of preventing OC figures from traveling to the United States.
3. (SBU) OC groups are known to be involved in narcotics trafficking, prostitution, extortion and racketeering, various financial crimes, car theft, and trafficking in stolen automobiles. Human trafficking for sexual exploitation, counterfeiting, and debit and credit card fraud also are some of the most common criminal activities engaged in by Bulgarian organized crime. Crime groups involved in human trafficking are extremely mobile, and victims are often sold or traded amongst various groups. Many groups use a host of legitimate businesses domestically and abroad to launder the proceeds of their illegal activities. Several well-known businessmen linked to organized crime have parlayed their wealth into ownership of sports teams, property developments, and financial institutions. (An organized crime activity that received special attention due to its growth in 2004 was VAT (value-added tax) fraud. The Ministry of Finance estimated that VAT fraud cost the Bulgarian treasury over $700 million in losses annually.)
4. (SBU) Counterfeit currency — both U.S. dollar and, increasingly, Euro banknotes — is produced in Bulgaria and distributed primarily in France, Greece, Italy, and Spain by small groups of Bulgarians who return to Bulgaria immediately after making delivery. While there is thought to be cooperation between Bulgarian groups and other international organized crime groups, the couriers, middlemen and distributors are predominantly Bulgarian. The quality of counterfeit currency is continuously improving due to increasingly sophisticated printing facilities and the involvement of professional individuals with considerable printing skills. A June 2005 raid in northeast Bulgaria — part of a joint operation between Bulgarian law enforcement and the U.S. Secret Service — netted more than $3 million in high-quality counterfeit $100 banknotes (ref B). This was the second largest counterfeit seizure in European history.
5. (C) U.S.-based investigations of transnational crime groups have dismantled significant drug trafficking organizations run by Bulgarian nationals in Los Angeles and Tampa. These groups imported multi-kilo quantities of cocaine and multi-thousand doses of ecstasy into the United States. They had drug connections through Amsterdam and some financial backing of an Israeli national. While most members of these groups were convicted and imprisoned in the U.S., three who were charged in California and Florida are still wanted international fugitives who may have returned to Bulgaria to exploit the country’s current policy of not extraditing its citizens. The three fugitives are IVAYLO ANGELOV PETKOV (Bulgarian citizen born 18 May 1965), IVAN DOBREV (Bulgarian citizen born 25 May 1959), and STEFAN TZVETANOV STOYANOV (Bulgarian citizen born 9 January 1966).
6. (SBU) Other investigations in the U.S. have identified Bulgarian nationals manufacturing and selling false identity documents for use in organized bank fraud, mortgage fraud, credit card fraud, and alien smuggling.
————————————– WHO’S WHO IN BULGARIAN ORGANIZED CRIME ————————————–
7. (C) Since the fall of Communism in 1989 and the turbulent 1990s, Bulgaria’s organized crime scene has undergone major changes, much like the rest of Bulgaria’s economic, political, and social landscape. Once the doyen of Bulgarian organized crime, MULTIGRUP’s (MG) prominence has dramatically declined following the assassination of its leader, Iliya Pavlov in 2003. MG has actively tried to transform some activities into a legitimate business group focused on managing the vast assets it acquired during its heyday. The group hired a U.S. lobbyist to focus on legitimate enterprises and to improve MG’s image. Former Multigrup operatives went on to found Bulgaria’s two other major organized crime groupings, VIS and SIC. Both have since disbanded, but their remnants are still actively involved in organized criminal activity. However, the presence and clout of their remnants/successors appears to be in decline as members continually switch allegiances between groupings, depending on their personal economic interests.
The up-and-coming star of Bulgarian organized crime, the Varna-based TIM group, is increasingly resembling MULTIGRUP in its successful efforts to permeate as many legal and illegal sectors as possible; currently, TIM and its subsidiary business empire is one of the largest and most serious economic concerns in Bulgaria.
A. (C) TIM — The New Leader in Bulgarian OC Founded in Varna in 1993, TIM is thought to have been set up by about ten former marines who had been part of an elite military unit before it was disbanded in the early 1990s. TIM has filled the vacuum created by MG’s decline following Iliya Pavlov’s killing in 2003. The name of the grouping is thought to be derived from the first initials of its three main figures: TIHOMIR IVANOV MITEV (Bulgarian citizen born 10 October 1958), IVO KAMENOV GEORGIEV (Bulgarian citizen born 22 September 1969), and MARIN VELIKOV MITEV (Bulgarian citizen born 5 October 1957). It is believed that 12 people control all of TIM’s companies — which in 2003 were estimated to number over 150 and include over 10,000 employees — with each of the 12 holding fixed shares in the assets and running separate sectors of the group’s business empire. Despite trying to portray itself as a purely legitimate business grouping, TIM remains very secretive about its corporate structure and ownership, and its companies and divisions are entangled in a complex set of relationships. As an organized crime group, TIM is involved in a wide range of criminal activities, including extortion and racketeering, intimidation, prostitution, gambling, narcotics trafficking, car theft, and trafficking in stolen automobiles. TIM’s home base of Varna has a large Russian population, and TIM is thought to have connections to Russian organized crime, including the notorious Russian crime figure, MICHAEL CHORNY (see RUSSIAN INFLUENCE). Tihomir Mitev oversees TIM’s industrial operations. His older brother, Marin, controls TIM’s core business interests in Varna and the surrounding region, while Ivo Georgiev oversees TIM’s Sofia operations and the group’s financial interests. Other notable members of the group include MIROSLAV PETROV NESTOROV (Bulgarian citizen born 12 March 1964), who is in charge of the group’s strategic planning and also is director of TIM’s large service sector subsidiary MUSTANG HOLDINGS; YORDAN DIMITROV YORDANOV (Bulgarian citizen born 24 November 1974), who oversees most of TIM’s media interests and also sits on Mustang’s board; and Nikolai Bozhidarov Nikolov (Bulgarian citizen born 28 August 1949), Mustang’s CEO and husband of Varna’s chief architect and city planner. TIM’s initial activities involved collecting bad debts — a line of business that has contributed to the group’s negative public image but which still remains one of its main activities — and providing security services in the Varna region. In the mid-1990s, the group branched out to agriculture and foodstuffs, and its current interests include grain storage and poultry farming, as well as the SUHINDOL winery (through the SEVERCO-GAMZA company), which predominantly produces red wines for both domestic consumption and export. In Varna, TIM’s presence is seen and felt everywhere. Its media interests include M-SAT television (a Varna-based broadcaster available nationally by cable and satellite), five other cable television stations, two cable television operators, Alpha Radio (also available nationally), „Cherno More“ newspaper (the largest circulation newspaper in Varna and its surrounding region), and the advertising agency servicing these media interests. TIM also owns a chain of restaurants, cinemas, video rental shops, sports clubs, Internet gaming clubs, and bingo halls. The recently-launched, large-scale ALLEY ONE project plans to build seven hotels, 500 eating and entertainment facilities, and 300 shops on a 250-acre tract on the Black Sea coast near Varna. TIM controls some of the largest quarries of inert materials in Bulgaria, and through its trading company, CHIMIMPORT, it also has a significant share of the production and trade in fertilizers, petroleum products, and chemicals. TIM’s takeover of CENTRAL COOPERATIVE BANK (CCB), the group’s largest acquisition to date, was facilitated through Chimimport. After acquiring CCB, TIM continued to expand its financial sector operations by acquiring specialized financial service companies, including the insurance company ARMEETS. Again going through Chimimport, in 2002, TIM acquired a majority stake in Newton Financial Management BG, owner of the Bulgarian pension insurance company SILA. Newton Financial Management BG has since been renamed CCB GROUP ASSETS MANAGEMENT. TIM has used its substantial financial sector presence to offer one-stop shopping of combined banking, insurance, and pension services. In 2003, Chimimport bought 49 percent of Bulgaria’s second-largest air carrier, HEMUS AIR, later taking over 100 percent ownership of Hemus. In 2004, Chimimport also acquired 100 percent of a smaller airline, VIAGGIO; the takeover was approved by Viaggio’s largest shareholder, TODOR BATKOV (see RUSSIAN INFLUENCE), Michael Chorny’s lawyer and personal representative. With its combined interests in Hemus and Viaggio, TIM is thought to have its sights set on Bulgaria’s soon-to-be-privatized flag carrier, BULGARIA AIR.
B. (C) VAI HOLDINGS (formerly VIS and VIS 2) Founded in 1991 by a former wrestler, Vasil Iliev, the group’s initial name, VIS, was an acronym for Vasil Iliev Security. After the group’s license to carry out security services was revoked, the group was renamed VIS 2. In 1994, Iliev set up the IMPERIAL brokerage company in Vratsa. In 1995, Iliev was shot dead, and his younger brother, GEORGI ANDREEV ILIEV (Bulgarian citizen born 22 July 1966, also known as „JORO“), took over the leadership of VIS 2, which has since been renamed VAI HOLDINGS. While „Joro“ Iliev is the recognized leader of VAI, his lieutenant, NIKOLAI MIRCHOV TSVETIN (Bulgarian citizen born 27 February 1965, also known as „THE TWIN“ and „KOKO“), is thought to be in charge of most of the group’s companies and activities. Other high-ranking members of VAI include ANTON BOYANOV and PLAMEN VASILEV TIMEV (Bulgarian citizen born 2 March 1952, also known as „GANDI“). In November 2003, another high-ranking member of VAI, METODI ZLATANOV METODIEV (Bulgarian citizen born 12 October 1965, also known as „METO ILIYANSKI“), disappeared; while police believe he was kidnapped and possibly killed, it is also possible he is in hiding. Before he was shot dead in Amsterdam in December 2003, KONSTANTIN DIMITROV (Bulgarian citizen born 21 November 1970, also known as „SAMOKOVETSA“) was one of the biggest smugglers in Bulgaria and the country’s top drug lord. Georgi Iliev, a relative of Dimitrov’s, was also his best man. After Dimitrov’s murder, VAI retained control of the drug market through ANTON PETROV MILTENOV (Bulgarian citizen born 28 October 1973, also known as „THE BEAK“), who is thought to have inherited Dimitrov’s smuggling and drugs operations. Another of Georgi Iliev’s close friends, DIMITAR ILIEV DZHAMOV (Bulgarian citizen born 15 July 1960), is involved in local drug dealing in central and southern Bulgaria. Dzhamov, an importer of Russian natural gas, is also thought to be involved in money laundering and to have ties to Turkish organized crime through the Turkish businessman YAMAN HAKI NAMLY. A former wrestler, Dzhamov started out in organized crime as the driver of the late ILIYA PAVLOV (see MULTIGRUP). As the largest player in the drugs market, VAI controls trafficking routes, production facilities, and distribution networks. The group is also involved in trafficking stolen automobiles from Western Europe to the former Soviet Union. Its other criminal activities include extortion and racketeering, illegal arms trading, gambling, prostitution, and smuggling.
VAI has extensive business interests in tourism, finance, entertainment, and manufacturing. It controls JUPITER insurance company, as well as SUNNY BEACH, one of Bulgaria’s largest resorts on the Black Sea coast north of Burgas. The group also owns a number of local soccer teams, and the XGROUND MODELING AGENCY is controlled by VAI through Georgi Iliev’s wife, MARIA DELCHEVA ILIEVA[1] (Bulgarian citizen born 25 May 1973, also known as MARIA DELCHEVA PENELOVA).
C. (C) INTERGROUP (formerly SIC) KRASIMIR ANDREEV MARINOV (Bulgarian citizen born 6 May 1964, also known as „THE BIG MARGIN“), the group’s current president and another former wrestler, founded SIC (and later INTERGROUP) with MLADEN MIHALEV (Bulgarian citizen born 13 October 1964, also known as „MADJO“), also a former wrestler, and RUMEN GOTZOV NIKOLOV (Bulgarian citizen born 26 May 1962, also known as „THE PASHA“). Nikolov is also connected to the UNION OF FORMER COMMANDOS (see below). The reported mastermind behind the group’s operations is VENTSISLAV DIMITROV STEFANOV (Bulgarian citizen born 28 November 1949). In April 2004, his son, DIMITAR VENTSISLAVOV DIMITROV (Bulgarian citizen born 15 September 1980) was kidnapped and has not been recovered. Intergroup’s illegal activities include narcotics (especially heroin), financial fraud (through its ties with the AMIGOS financial guarantee company), car thefts and trafficking in stolen automobiles, smuggling, extortion and racketeering, and prostitution. The group’s narcotics interests are handled mostly through its connections with IVAN TODOROV (see AMIGOS), who is thought to be one of the largest drug traffickers in the Balkans. KIRIL SOTIROV KIROV (Bulgarian citizen born 10 December 1953, also known as „THE JAPANESE“), known as the Roma drug baron, is connected to INTERGROUP and is also closely connected to IVAN TODOROV (see AMIGOS). Kirov, who is also involved in human trafficking and alien smuggling, barely survived a second assassination attempt in April 2005. Intergroup’s legal business interests range from sport teams (SLAVIA) to banking (FIRST EAST INTERNATIONAL BANK) and insurance to petroleum and metals trading to construction and real estate (SOFISKI IMOTI) to modeling (VISAGES). Ventsislav is the manager of the Slavia soccer team in Sofia. GEORGI LIALEV also serves on Slavia’s managing board. Lialev’s father, Traian Lialev, is Dean of the Law Faculty of Southwestern University in Blagoevgrad; through Lialev, Rumen Nikolov and Mladen Mihalev received law degrees. Georgi Lialev is also a business partner with RUMEN GAITANSKI (Bulgarian citizen, also known as „THE WOLF“), whose company, WOLF 96, also has connections with Intergroup. The Visages modeling agency was founded in 1994 by EVGENIYA GEORGIEVA KALKANDZHIEVA (Bulgarian citizen born 20 February 1975); she is believed to have close ties to Krasimir Marinov. The group’s insurance company, BUL INS, is the largest insurer in Bulgaria. One area where the group’s legal and illegal activities coalesced is in car theft and automobile insurance. Automobiles insured by Bul Ins display special identity stickers meant to protect them from being stolen; cars not insured by Bul Ins are considered fair game. Intergroup also controls UNION INSURANCE.
D. (C) MULTIGRUP (also known as Multigroup and MG) MG’s founder and president, ILIYA PAVLOV (Bulgarian-born, naturalized American citizen born 6 August 1960) was shot dead in Sofia on 7 March 2003. Once the largest organized crime group in Bulgaria, Pavlov started to move MG into legitimate businesses, comprised of hundreds of subsidiary companies with interests in natural resources and mining, finance, tourism, manufacturing, and food commodities. In 2001, Pavlov and his deputy, BOYANA GEORGIEVA POPOVA (Bulgarian citizen born 17 October 1960) established MG ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY (MG AM) to take over all of MG’s assets and adopt a legitimate, internationally-acceptable management structure. MG AM’s parent company, MG VENTURES (registered and headquartered in Delaware) was owned in equal parts by Pavlov and Popova. Following Pavlov’s murder, Popova became the group’s CEO and Pavlov’s 50 percent stake in MG Ventures was transferred to his widow, DARINA PAVLOVA (Bulgarian-born, naturalized American citizen), and children through the Pavlovi Trust. Pavlov’s father, PAVEL NAYDENOV (Bulgarian citizen born 16 June 1936), was once very active in MG’s management. However, following his son’s death and subsequent disputes with Popova and Pavlova, Naydenov resigned from his positions in MG and set up his own holding company, KREPOST 2002. In 2004, Popova announced that MG would start selling a large number of its assets in order to focus primarily on investment projects and tourism. There were also reports that Popova preferred to re-direct the group’s efforts from the Balkans to U.S.-based activities. While MG’s activities in the Balkans have significantly declined, one of its highest profile subsidiaries remains BALKANTOURIST, the largest tour operator in Bulgaria, catering especially to tourists from Western Europe. DIMITAR HRISTOV IVANOV (Bulgarian citizen born 19 April 1951) was the president of MG’s first subsidiary (MULTIART) in the early 1990s before becoming a vice president of MG under Pavlov. Since leaving MG, Ivanov is now the director of EVROPA HOLDINGS. Another former MG employee, SASHO GEORGIEV DONCHEV (Bulgarian citizen born 7 September 1953), is the executive director of OVERGAS (also known as OVERGAZ). Overgas was established in 1992 as a joint venture between MG and the Russian state-owned GAZPROM; the company quickly became the largest private importer and provider of natural gas in Bulgaria. Overgas is also involved in constructing and managing gas pipelines and other infrastructure. The company has links to VAI HOLDINGS through JUPITER INSURANCE, of which Overgas has a 35 percent stake; Jupiter’s activities include insurance for financial risk, cargo, and gas pipelines. YURI VYAKHIREV, the son of a former Gazprom director, REM VYAKHIREV, is a close associate of Donchev and also a partner in Overgas.
E. (C) UNION OF FORMER COMMANDOS (also known as SPARTAK) ALEXEI ILIEV PETROV (Bulgarian citizen born 23 April 1962) is a former officer in the elite special unit for combating terrorism. He and his grouping of former military commandos (also known as „berets“) are most actively involved in the insurance sector through LEVSKI SPARTAK INSURANCE (previously known as „APOLLO & BOLKAN“ and „SPARTAK“). Petrov also owns the largest taxi company in Sofia, TAXI S EXPRESS, which has more than 3500 cars. It is believed that Petrov’s involvement in Taxi S Express, Levski Spartak, and other companies bearing the Spartak name have been disguised as Israeli investment; Petrov is closely linked to former Israeli ambassador to Sofia, DAVID KOEN. Another member of the group, ZLATOMIR IVANOV (Bulgarian citizen, also known as „THE BERET“) was a former director of APOLLO & BOLKAN and is currently director of ARKUS SECURITY. Ivanov oversees the group’s smuggling, extortion, and racketeering activities, among other illegal activities. The group is thought to have the largest share in Sofia’s escort and intimate services businesses, which are used as fronts for prostitution and trafficking in women for sexual exploitation.
F. (C) NOVE HOLDINGS VASIL KRUMOV BOZHKOV (Bulgarian citizen born 29 July 1956, also known as „THE SKULL“) founded his first company in 1990, before expanding to his current business empire, NOVE HOLDINGS, comprising over 30 companies and numerous subsidiaries. NOVE’s primary legal business interests include gambling (bingo halls, casinos, and the popular EUROFOOTBALL lottery) and duty free shops. Bozhkov also owns the CSKA soccer team in Sofia and the J MODELS modeling agency. He is also believed to control RISK ENGINEERING, which was originally part of the MG empire. Bozhkov’s numerous media connections include TOSHO TOSHEV (chief editor and managing director of TRUD, the largest-circulation daily newspaper in Bulgaria), KEVORK KEVORKIAN (popular television show host on state-owned BNT), and RADOSVET RADEV (owner of DARIK RADIO). In 2002, NOVE sold the majority share of Eurofootball lottery to the Greek billionaire SOKRATIS KOKALIS, reducing the holding’s share to 49 percent. Bozhkov publicly thanked prominent businessman SPAS RUSEV for facilitating the deal. Rusev is closely linked to the NMSS; as a close friend and personal advisor of Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha, Rusev is credited with putting together the NMSS economic team, including Milen Velchev (Finance Minister) and Nikolai Vassilev (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transportation). NOVE’s casinos include the LONDON CASINO at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Sofia and the RILA CASINO at the Rila Hotel, also in Sofia. Bozhkov is thought to control the Rila Hotel, both through IRENA MARINOVA (director of the hotel’s owner, RIEL 99, and board member of the hotel’s management company), and through ANTONI NAUMOV (director of the hotel’s management company). Marinova is also a shareholder in BUL INS (see INTERGROUP), along with Bozhkov (through NOVE). Naumov and Bozhkov are partners in several companies, including CSKA basketball team. Bozhkov has used his influence to block the transfer of the approximately 49 percent of the Rila Hotel, subject of long-running property restitution case, claimed by Bulgaria’s Jewish community. Bozhkov’s illegal activities include money laundering, privatization fraud, intimidation, and extortion and racketeering. Bozhkov is also connected to INTERGROUP (through the company IGM, which he owns jointly with MLADEN MIHALEV, and NOVE’s shares in BUL INS) and to IVAN TODOROV (see INTERGROUP and AMIGOS).
G. (C) DZI (formerly Rosexim Bank) EMIL ALEXANDROV KYULEV (Bulgarian citizen born 5 June 1957) made his fortune through Tourist Sports Bank (also known as TS Bank), which went bankrupt under his leadership. In 1995, SIPDIS he founded the BULGARIAN-RUSSIAN INVESTMENT BANK (also known as BRI BANK), and, after leaving BRI Bank in 1997, Kyulev joined the board of directors of BULSTRAD INSURANCE. In 1998, Kyulev bought the Plovdiv-based Trakia Bank, which he re-registered as ROSEXIM BANK. Rosexim Bank’s largest client is the Bulgarian government, which channels all tax, customs, and excise payments through the bank. The bank also provides financial services to Russia’s LUKOIL and MOBILTEL (the largest mobile telephone operator in Bulgaria, also known as MTEL). In addition to Kyulev’s connections to MICHAEL CHORNY (see RUSSIAN INFLUENCE) through MTEL, TODOR BATKOV (Michael Chorny’s lawyer and personal representative), served on Rosexim Bank’s board of directors until 2003. In 2004, Rosexim Bank was renamed DZI BANK, finalizing the merger between Rosexim Bank and DZI, the former state-owned insurance company, which Kyulev acquired in 2002. Kyulev’s criminal activities include fraud and money laundering. Kyulev has recently employed a U.S. lobby group and public relations agency to clean up and manage his image. As part of his campaign to gain credibility and legitimacy, he has also recently established the DZI Foundation to combat human trafficking; Kyulev is suspected of using the foundation as a channel to launder money.
H. (C) LITEX COMMERCE Again a former wrestler and current member of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation, GRISHNA DANAELOV[2] GANCHEV (Bulgarian citizen born 10 December 1962) owns a chain of gas stations and is one of the top three petroleum importers in Bulgaria. His company, LITEX COMMERCE, also owns the QUEEN brand of fruit juices. Ganchev was one of the first organized crime leaders to use a sports team to launder money, through the LITEX soccer team in Lovech. Litex also owns the Lovech-based VINAL winery, which produces wine for domestic consumption and export to Europe, as well as vodka for export. Litex’s illegal activities include petroleum smuggling, financial fraud and money laundering, and extortion and racketeering.
I. (C) MIG GROUP (also known as COOL PASS[3]) The MIG GROUP, headed by SLAVCHO PENCHEV BINEV (Bulgarian citizen born 10 December 1965, also known as „SLAVY“), owns more than 30 nightclubs, bars, and restaurants in Sofia, including the popular nightclubs BIAD, DALI, and BIBLIOTEKA. GEORGI STOYANOV (Bulgarian citizen) and MIHAIL STEFANOV (Bulgarian citizen) are „Slavy“ Binev’s two deputies. The group’s business interests also include construction and tourism; it operates a travel agency as part of its COOL PLACE entertainment complex. The group’s criminal activities include prostitution, narcotics, and trafficking stolen automobiles.
J. (C) AMIGOS IVAN TODOROV (Bulgarian citizen born 27 December 1964, also known as „THE DOCTOR“) is no longer part of Amigos but still maintains close ties to group, especially for money laundering and other financial services. PETAR HRISTOV PETROV (Bulgarian citizen born 15 September 1969), a cousin of MLADEN MIHALEV (see INTERGROUP), is a close associate of Todorov, and is also actively involved in money laundering and other financial crimes.
K. (C) VUZRAZHDANE BUSINESS CLUB VUZRAZHDANE Business Club was founded in 2001 jointly by VASIL BOZHKOV (see NOVE HOLDINGS), EMIL KYULEV (see DZI), ILIYA PAVLOV (see MULTIGRUP), BORISLAV DIONISIEV, DOBROMIR GUSHTEROV, PETIO BLASKEV[4] (owner of the weekly newspaper 168 HOURS), TOSHO TOSHEV (chief editor and managing director of TRUD, the largest-circulation daily newspaper in Bulgaria), and RADOSVET RADEV (owner of DARIK RADIO). With Pavlov’s death in 2003, and the departure of Gushterov and Dionosiev in 2004, the business club does not maintain the same importance it once did, but it still serves as a forum for cooperation between a number of economic interests. Gushterov, the owner of OREL G insurance company, and Dionisiev left the club in 2004 when Gushterov and PETAR MANDJUKOV founded a rival club of entrepreneurs, also called Vuzrazhdane. Mandjukov, an arms trader, owns PM GROUP, the parent company of INFOMEDIA, PM PRESS (the publisher of the Socialist daily newspaper DUMA), and BALKAN BULGARIAN TELEVISION (BBT). MACHINEXPORT, a company owned by Mandjukov and Dionisiev, was named in the Duelfer Report for its connections to Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq.
L. (C) RUSSIAN INFLUENCE Russia continues to exercise significant influence over the Bulgarian economy through energy imports, including crude oil, natural gas and nuclear fuel. When Bulgaria’s only retail gas distributor, PETROL AD, was privatized, it came under the control of Russian businessman DENIS ERSHOV. ERSHOV was banned from entering Bulgaria in August 2000, having been cited as a threat to the country’s national security; however the ban was lifted in 2004 on Ershov’s appeal. Ershov, once vice president of one of the biggest exporters of Russian crude oil, established the NAFTEX group in 1991, of which PETROL AD became a part. Ershov was a member of the NAFTEX BULGARIA HOLDING (now PETROL HOLDING), and is a member of the PETROL AD Supervisory Board. Despite the fact that he is no longer the owner of Bulgarian telephone operator MOBILTEL (MTEL), Russian mobster MICHAEL CHORNY is thought to retain influence over the company through his ties to members of Austrian Mobiltel Holding. Acquired from Chorny by Austrian Mobiltel Holding and Austrian Bank BAWAG in 2002, MTEL was sold in July 2004 in the largest-ever leveraged buy-out in Central and Eastern Europe. The takeover was engineered through the Bulgarian joint stock company BIDCO. BIDCO shares the same office building with Chorny’s lawyer, TODOR BATKOV, who is still a member of MTEL’s board. Batkov and other representatives of Chorny allegedly put pressure on the Bulgarian Government to delay the issuing of the third GSM license to BTC in July 2004. Indeed, the Supreme Administrative Court decided 15 July 15 2004 to postpone the launch of the BTC GSM license. The court decision suggests that Chorny is still in control of MTEL, as the judge presiding over the Supreme Administrative Court panel for the BTC case also revoked the Government’s decision banning Chorny from entering the country. In addition, Chorny has connections to EMIL KYULEV (see DZI) through his interests in DZI BANK (formerly Rosexim Bank), which is owned by Kyulev. Todor Batkov served on Rosexim’s board of directors until 2003. CHORNY has also maintained influence over a number of companies by transferring ownership to Batkov. These entities include the LEVSKI football team, STANDARDT newspaper, and BANKYA PALACE hotel. LUKOIL’s representative in Bulgaria is VALENTIN ZLATEV. The Russian petroleum company is estimated to be the largest corporate taxpayer in Bulgaria. It also controls Russian oil exports to Bulgaria. Lukoil’s Bulgarian operations, through Zlatev, are suspected of strong ties to Russian intelligence and organized crime.
M. (C) AKB CORPORATION. The AKB CORPORATION, headed by NIKOLAI YORDANOV BANEV (Bulgarian citizen born 16 August 1959), was involved mainly in privatizing state-owned industries. Its primary illegal activities include privatization fraud and corruption.
—————————————- POLITICS: THE NEXUS WITH ORGANIZED CRIME —————————————-
8. (C) Organized crime has a corrupting influence on all Bulgarian institutions, including the government, parliament and judiciary. In an attempt to maintain their influence regardless of who is in power, OC figures donate to all the major political parties. As these figures have expanded into legitimate businesses, they have attempted — with some success — to buy their way into the corridors of power. During the 2001 general elections, a number of influential „businessmen,“ including VASIL BOZHKOV and EMIL KYULEV, heavily financed and otherwise supported the NMSS campaign. At the beginning of his term in office in 2001, Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha held a high-profile meeting with members of Vuzrazhdane in which he invited Iliya Pavlov, Vasil Bozhkov, et al, to become part of a „business consultative council“ advising the government. Later that year, Kyulev helped finance the successful presidential campaign of BSP leader Georgi Purvanov.
9. (C) Ahmed Dogan, the leader of the government’s junior coalition partner, attended Iliya Pavlov’s funeral in 2003, making no attempt to conceal his close relationship with the slain Multigrup chairman. During the 2005 election campaign, business interests with connections to OC (including LUKOIL and Sasho Donchev’s OVERGAS), Bozhkov, Kyulev, and others spread their support and money across the political spectrum, focusing primarily on the NMSS and the BSP, in an effort to ensure that their interests were protected whatever the outcome of the vote.
10. (C) Below the level of the national government and the leadership of the major political parties, OC „owns“ a number of municipalities and individual members of parliament. This direct participation in politics — as opposed to bribery — is a relatively new development for Bulgarian OC. DOBROMIR GUSHTEROV, a founding member of Vuzrazhdane a major BSP sponsor, won a seat in parliament on the BSP ticket this year. Gushterov’s was one of several „insurance“ companies engaged in extortion and racketeering in the years immediately following the collapse of communism. At the municipal level, a by-election earlier this year in the town of Svilingrad, on the Bulgarian-Turkish border, resulted in the complete takeover of the municipal government by figures who have made little attempt to conceal their links to powerful smuggling interests. Similarly in the regional center of Velingrad, OC figures control the municipal council and the mayor’s office. Nearly identical scenarios have played out in half a dozen smaller towns and villages across Bulgaria.
——- COMMENT ——-
11. (C) Despite continuing pressure from the U.S. and the EU, past Bulgarian governments have done little to reduce the presence of organized crime. As a result, OC has increased its influence and is able to operate with virtual impunity. The Bulgarian public recognizes OC’s corrupting influence, and people are clearly frustrated by the government’s inability or unwillingness to deal with the problem. We continue to provide technical assistance to reform-minded elements of the Bulgarian government and judiciary — and to speak out on the need to fight corruption and organized crime — but real political leverage on this issue lies with the EU. A delay in Bulgaria’s accession would be politically disastrous for the incoming government. If the EU uses this leverage to demand not only far-reaching judicial reform but effective implementation as well, there is reason to hope that the tide will slowly begin to turn against organized crime in the coming years.
PARDEW
[1] The first name of MARIA ILIEVA is MAYA.
[2] DANAILOV, not DANAELOV
[3] COOL PLACE, not COOL PASS
[4] BLASKOV, not BLASKEV
Comments on the cable from the editors of Bivol.bg
Bivol received the uncensored text of James Pardew’s cable, dated July 7, 2005. It was provided for us by the magazine “Russkiy Reporter” (Russian Reporter), which is preparing a publication about the influence of Russian mafia in Bulgaria. The magazine asked us to verify the authenticity of the names and the events, and to prepare comments on the faith of the emblematic organized crime bosses, cited in the cable.
We must note that we have no contract or financial relations with “Russkiy Reporter,” its owners and its sources of information. Our professional contacts end with the work on this particular case: summarizing and offering factual information and our editorial analysis of the cable.
The cable’s authenticity was confirmed by another source – the Norwegian paper Aftenposten, which has independent access to all diplomatic cables leaked through Wikileaks.
We examined in detail the entire text and did not find in it a single name of a person that must be concealed for safety reasons, because they have provided information about organized crime to the American Embassy.
We cannot sign under claims of involvement of the quoted individuals and companies with organized crime, like Ambassador Pardew did – he had available sources and methods of collecting information way beyond the possibilities of journalism.
But, as the readers will see for themselves, the cable talks about the total invasion of the State by organized crime – no more and no less.
The mafia, on its part, has a direct connection with the remnants of the Communist Secret Services (DS) and the Russian ones (KGB); a connection which we can say, without falling in the trap of conspiracy theories, is alive today.
Bulgarians must further know this now, because the signing, with Russian monopolists, of some very controversial from economic and strategic point of view contracts for energy projects is pending: South Stream and the “Belene” Nuclear Power Plant.
These projects were supported by NDSV (the decision to build “Belene” was made personally by Simeon Saxe-Coburg in the beginning of his term), by BSP and the President Parvanov.
In 2005, Ambassador Pardew writes that individuals connected to both Bulgarian organized crime and Russian financial and economic interests in the energy sector have finances political campaigns of NDSV, BSP and President Parvanov in order to maintain their positions. Their names are spelled out in the cable.
We also learn that oligarchs, close to now Prime Minister Borisov are considered by our American partners to be close to Russian intelligence.
It is obvious, the financial influence of these circles is not an isolated occurrence, but rather an event that is reproduced in the political cycle. There is a real threat that it would become a factor during the forthcoming local and presidential elections as well. The voters have the right to know how, by whom, and for what reasons their trust is being transformed.
Assessing the information from the point of view of public interest, we believe the only right thing to do is to publish the full, uncensored text of the cable with the following comments:
7.A. TIM
The TIM-owned Balkan Hemus Group bought BULGARIA AIR in November 2006.
The expansion of TIM continued through the years, and with GERB’s accession to power, the group became even more powerful. TIM leaders have always been nervous about being mentioned in the press, and in mainstream media, there is a real taboo on writing or speaking about the group.
The ALLEY ONE project is ongoing, but with the strong opposition of Varna’s civil society insisting that the land was sold to TIM by the State at a very low price. In 2009-2010, prominent civil activists reported that they have been intimidated by TIM members. However, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, apprehensively refuses to answer journalists’ questions related to ALLEY ONE and TIM.
Recently, the Capital weekly reported about suspicious money transfers from the TIM-owned pension insurance company SILA to other TIM-related businesses:
About 10 days ago, the German investigative journalist Jurgen Roth alleged in his blog that the Head of the Bulgarian Central Bank, Ivan Iskrov, has provided cover-up for suspicious financial operations of TIM:
It is believed, TIM have monopolized grain production and grain storage in the country, leading to a significant raise of bread and sunflower oil prices. Former Prime Minister, Ivan Kostov, recently called this cartelization “criminal” but avoided mentioning TIM.
The Member of the Parliament, Emil Radev, from Borisov’s ruling GERB is the TIM man in the government. Like the TIM founders, he is a former marine (navy seal), and while not directly working for them, he has strong business and personal ties with the group. Radev is proposing a legal amendment limiting public access to the Business (Trade) Registry of Bulgaria’s Registry Agency. If the amendment is passed, it will become a significant hurdle for investigative journalists attempting to expose shady business relationships.
7.B. VAI HOLDINGS (formerly VIS and VIS2)
ANTON PETROV MILTENOV – „THE BEAK“ was shot dead in July 2005, in downtown Sofia, just a few days after this cable was edited.
GEORGI ILIEV was shot dead in the VAI owned Buda bar in SUNNY BEACH in August 2005.
PLAMEN VASILEV TIMEV – “GANDI” is actually a key witness against ALEXEI PETROV – “THE TRACTOR”
DIMITAR ILIEV DZHAMOV –is very close to the Major or the city of Sliven, former star soccer player Yordan Letchkov. The Dzhamov-owned firms are said to regularly win public contracts from the Sliven municipality. Lechkov-supported public contracts are also investigated by OLAF, the European Anti-fraud Office.
7.C. INTERGROUP (formerly SIC)
KRASIMIR ANDREEV MARINOV and his brother, Nikolay, known as THE MARGUINS BROTHERS were arrested in October 2005, on charges of plotting the murders of former Communist Secret Services – State Security (DS) Chief, Gen. Lyuben Gotzev, of Ivan Todorov AKA The Doctor and of the TIM financial director, NIKOLA DAMYANOV (not mentioned in this cable).
DAMYANOV, who is believed to be TIM’s strategic planner, died from natural causes in October, 2007.
The Marguins trial turned into a farce; based on lack of evidence of ties with organized crime, they received not-guilty verdicts – Krasimir aka The Big Marguin is free on recognizance; Nikolay aka The Little Marguin was tried in absence – he disappeared right after the January murder of controversial radio host, Bobi Tsankov, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
IVAN TODOROV – “The Doctor” was shot dead in his car on February 22, 2006; he was sprayed with 15 bullets.
Strangely enough, this cable lacks information about the huge political scandal surrounding the first assassination attempt on “The Doctor,” in 2003. He survived a bomb blast in his car, but the then Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Boyko Borissov, reported pictures, found in the Doctor’s briefcase, were featuring Milen Velchev – Finance Minister, Plamen Petrov – Transport Minister, Miroslav Sevlievski – Member of the Parliament, and known-criminal, Peter Petrov AKA the Amigos, playing cards on the yacht of Spas Rusev (mentioned in the cable) in Monaco. The Doctor, himself, can be seen in the background of this same picture. The revelations were followed by a huge scandal, but no politicians were fired.
RUMEN GOTZOV NIKOLOV – THE PASHA disappeared from public life. There is proof about his business ties in the 90-ies with current Prime Minister BOYKO BORISSOV (the TEO INTERNATIONAL Company). They owned together a factory for the illegal production of cigarettes in Kraymorie, near Bourgas. The illegal manufacturing was discovered during an anti-mafia unit operation in 1996. Borissov then sold his shares in TEO INTERNATIONAL to Ivo Kamenov Georgiev from TIM.
MLADEN MIHALEV – „MADJO“ is living in Switzerland. In 2007, he appeared during The Marguins trial as a protected witness and then Minister of the Interior, Rumen Petkov, ordered exclusive security measures for him, surpassing those used to protect the President. In 2010, Madjo testified again during the Marguins trial. According to a publication of journalist, Ivo Indzhev, in 2003, President, Georgi Parvanov and Madjo were both at the birthday party of the Secretary of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, Evgeniy Uzunov.
Ventsislav Dimitrov Stefanov – associate in INTERGROUP, President of the Slavia soccer club, Rumen Nikolov – The Pasha, Boyko Borisov – Rapona and Nikolay Zlatev, president of TSBank. Photo by Capital
BOYKO BORISSOV – “RAPONA,” current Prime Minister of Bulgaria, who is not mentioned by US Ambassador, James Pardew in this cable, was a low-level associate of SIC. According to a report by the Capital weekly from November 1995, during an anniversary party organized by SIC, he was in charge of the group’s public relations (protection from journalists).
7.E Union of Former Commandos (also known as Spartak)
ALEXEI ILIEV PETROV – “The Tractor,” now State Enemy N°1, was arrested in February 2010 and charged with racketeering, smuggling, extortion, human trafficking. On year later, the charges are yet to be finalized and Petrov was released, first on house arrest, and then on own recognizance. He declared himself the main opponent of Prime Minister, Boyko Borissov, and announced he will be running for President at the November 2011 elections.
It is believed that in 2001, the Tractor was recruited as an undercover agent by the counterintelligence service, then named National Security Service.
In 2008-2009, the Tractor was appointed Special Advisor for the Director of the State Agency for National Security (DANS, known as the Bulgarian FBI), Petko Sertov. Analysts say he was the real boss of this main Bulgarian secret service unit.
ZLATOMIR IVANOV – „THE BERET“ was arrested in 2005 on drug trafficking and first-degree murder-for-hire charges. After five years of court sessions and numerous witness testimonies, his trial started all over again in November 2010, because one of the jurors was charged with child pornography.
“The Beret” was declared chronically ill – he is currently released from jail on bail, and kept under house arrest.
7.F. (C) NOVE HOLDINGS
Bozhkov’s relationships in politics and media is illustrated in this photo. From left to right: President Georgi Parvanov, Tosho Toshev – until recently Editor-in-Chief of the Trud daily, and Vassil Bozhkov – « The Scull »
Bozhkov’s connections with the media further stem from the Vazrazhdane club, and the close ties with the Communist State Security (Darzhavna Sigurnost, DS, or the Bulgarian KGB). Journalists Toshev, Radev, and Kevorkian have been exposed as DS collaborators. President Parvanov was also a DS agent under the alias « Gotse. »
7.G. (C) DZI (formerly Rosexim Bank)
EMIL KYULEV was shot dead in downtown Sofia in October, 2006. Three high-ranking government functionaries immediately and publicly declared Kyulev’s business was “clean” – they were Interior Minister , Rumen Petkov, Attorney General Nikola Filchev and President Parvanov.
Kyulev was officially appointed as Parvanov’s advisor. Journalist Ivo Indzhev writes in his book « President on the Edge », that Parvanov had extensive talks with Kyulev just hours before he was shot. According to Indzhev, after this conversation, Kyulev changed his plans to travel abroad and then he was gunned down.
7.I MIG GROUP
SLAVY BINEV joined the nationalist ATAKA party in 2007. ATAKA leaders were originally inspired and trained by Russian panslavic foundations. The party, known for its anti-Semitic and xenophobic discourse, entered the Bulgarian Parliament in 2005. On the same day election results were announced, Russian diplomats gave a party at the Embassy for the newly elected ATAKA Members of the Parliament. Binev was elected Member of the European Parliament in 2007 and in 2009. Together with Dimitar Stoyanov, the step-son of ATAKA leader, Volen Siderov, Binev is known as one of the most scandalous Members of the European Parliament.
7.J AMIGOS
In 2009, PETER PETROV AKA “The Amigos” was convicted on first instance to 5 years of jail time on charges of money laundering. His trial continues on appeal, but has been closed for the media on February 28, 2011.
7.K VUZRAZDANE BUSINESS CLUB
PETAR MANDJUKOV is one of the oligarchs from President Parvanov’s closest circle.
He has been bestowed the country’s highest order Stara Planina. Mandjukov, reportedly, gave Parvanov as a gift two apartments in a building owned by businessman Lazov, who is also close to the President. In 2007, then TV journalist, Ivo Indzev, was fired on the spot from the TV Channel bTV, after talking about these deals in his show. (The US State Department reported the case.)
7.L RUSSIAN INFLUENCE
VALENTIN ZLATEV is close to current Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. When visiting the Black Sea cities of Varna and Burgas, Borissov, reportedly, is not staying at the official government residence, but in a hotel at the Obzor beach resort, owned by Zlatev’s father.
At the end of the 90-s, just after LUKOIL purchased the oil refinery plant, the IPON company, headed by Boyko Borissov, was assigned with providing security for all LUKOIL pipelines in Bulgaria– a major deal and source of revenue for years to come.
When Boyko Borissov was appointed in 2001 by former Tsar and Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg as Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry, he hired LUKOIL’s former Security Chief, Krasimir Petrov, as Chief of the Burgas police and gave him a General ranking.
Later, Krasimir Petrov was promoted by Interior Minister Rumen Petkov (whose US visa has been recalled) to the post Chief of the Bulgarian Border Police. Now retired, he keeps his position in the LUKOIL security services.
2. (SBU) The strength and immunity from the law of organized crime (OC) groups is arguably the most serious problem in Bulgaria today. OC activities underlie corruption and the ineffectiveness of the legal system in Bulgaria, and inhibit the country’s economic development. Bulgarian OC is particularly involved in international money laundering, drug trafficking, and counterfeiting. OC groups range from local street thugs involved in extortion to sophisticated international narcotic dealers and money launderers. An estimated 118 organized crime groups were operating in Bulgaria at the end of 2004, according to the National Service for Combating Organized Crime (NSBOP) of the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior (MoI), though many of these groups are relatively small and the landscape is dominated by a handful of big players. Organized crime continues to be pervasive in many spheres of Bulgarian life, despite domestic and international efforts to combat it. To date, not a single major OC figure has been punished by the Bulgarian legal system, despite an on-going series of OC-related assassinations. U.S. law enforcement agencies with offices in Sofia are supporting the effort to reduce OC in Bulgaria. The Fraud Prevention Unit in Embassy Sofia’s Consular Section maintains a list of known and suspected major organized crime figures, and Embassy Sofia has an aggressive policy of preventing OC figures from traveling to the United States.
3. (SBU) OC groups are known to be involved in narcotics trafficking, prostitution, extortion and racketeering, various financial crimes, car theft, and trafficking in stolen automobiles. Human trafficking for sexual exploitation, counterfeiting, and debit and credit card fraud also are some of the most common criminal activities engaged in by Bulgarian organized crime. Crime groups involved in human trafficking are extremely mobile, and victims are often sold or traded amongst various groups. Many groups use a host of legitimate businesses domestically and abroad to launder the proceeds of their illegal activities. Several well-known businessmen linked to organized crime have parlayed their wealth into ownership of sports teams, property developments, and financial institutions. (An organized crime activity that received special attention due to its growth in 2004 was VAT (value-added tax) fraud. The Ministry of Finance estimated that VAT fraud cost the Bulgarian treasury over $700 million in losses annually.)
4. (SBU) Counterfeit currency — both U.S. dollar and, increasingly, Euro banknotes — is produced in Bulgaria and distributed primarily in France, Greece, Italy, and Spain by small groups of Bulgarians who return to Bulgaria immediately after making delivery. While there is thought to be cooperation between Bulgarian groups and other international organized crime groups, the couriers, middlemen and distributors are predominantly Bulgarian. The quality of counterfeit currency is continuously improving due to increasingly sophisticated printing facilities and the involvement of professional individuals with considerable printing skills. A June 2005 raid in northeast Bulgaria — part of a joint operation between Bulgarian law enforcement and the U.S. Secret Service — netted more than $3 million in high-quality counterfeit $100 banknotes (ref B). This was the second largest counterfeit seizure in European history.
5. (C) U.S.-based investigations of transnational crime groups have dismantled significant drug trafficking organizations run by Bulgarian nationals in Los Angeles and Tampa. These groups imported multi-kilo quantities of cocaine and multi-thousand doses of ecstasy into the United States. They had drug connections through Amsterdam and some financial backing of an Israeli national. While most members of these groups were convicted and imprisoned in the U.S., three who were charged in California and Florida are still wanted international fugitives who may have returned to Bulgaria to exploit the country’s current policy of not extraditing its citizens. The three fugitives are IVAYLO ANGELOV PETKOV (Bulgarian citizen born 18 May 1965), IVAN DOBREV (Bulgarian citizen born 25 May 1959), and STEFAN TZVETANOV STOYANOV (Bulgarian citizen born 9 January 1966).
6. (SBU) Other investigations in the U.S. have identified Bulgarian nationals manufacturing and selling false identity documents for use in organized bank fraud, mortgage fraud, credit card fraud, and alien smuggling.
————————————– WHO’S WHO IN BULGARIAN ORGANIZED CRIME ————————————–
7. (C) Since the fall of Communism in 1989 and the turbulent 1990s, Bulgaria’s organized crime scene has undergone major changes, much like the rest of Bulgaria’s economic, political, and social landscape. Once the doyen of Bulgarian organized crime, MULTIGRUP’s (MG) prominence has dramatically declined following the assassination of its leader, Iliya Pavlov in 2003. MG has actively tried to transform some activities into a legitimate business group focused on managing the vast assets it acquired during its heyday. The group hired a U.S. lobbyist to focus on legitimate enterprises and to improve MG’s image. Former Multigrup operatives went on to found Bulgaria’s two other major organized crime groupings, VIS and SIC. Both have since disbanded, but their remnants are still actively involved in organized criminal activity. However, the presence and clout of their remnants/successors appears to be in decline as members continually switch allegiances between groupings, depending on their personal economic interests.
The up-and-coming star of Bulgarian organized crime, the Varna-based TIM group, is increasingly resembling MULTIGRUP in its successful efforts to permeate as many legal and illegal sectors as possible; currently, TIM and its subsidiary business empire is one of the largest and most serious economic concerns in Bulgaria.
A. (C) TIM — The New Leader in Bulgarian OC Founded in Varna in 1993, TIM is thought to have been set up by about ten former marines who had been part of an elite military unit before it was disbanded in the early 1990s. TIM has filled the vacuum created by MG’s decline following Iliya Pavlov’s killing in 2003. The name of the grouping is thought to be derived from the first initials of its three main figures: TIHOMIR IVANOV MITEV (Bulgarian citizen born 10 October 1958), IVO KAMENOV GEORGIEV (Bulgarian citizen born 22 September 1969), and MARIN VELIKOV MITEV (Bulgarian citizen born 5 October 1957). It is believed that 12 people control all of TIM’s companies — which in 2003 were estimated to number over 150 and include over 10,000 employees — with each of the 12 holding fixed shares in the assets and running separate sectors of the group’s business empire. Despite trying to portray itself as a purely legitimate business grouping, TIM remains very secretive about its corporate structure and ownership, and its companies and divisions are entangled in a complex set of relationships. As an organized crime group, TIM is involved in a wide range of criminal activities, including extortion and racketeering, intimidation, prostitution, gambling, narcotics trafficking, car theft, and trafficking in stolen automobiles. TIM’s home base of Varna has a large Russian population, and TIM is thought to have connections to Russian organized crime, including the notorious Russian crime figure, MICHAEL CHORNY (see RUSSIAN INFLUENCE). Tihomir Mitev oversees TIM’s industrial operations. His older brother, Marin, controls TIM’s core business interests in Varna and the surrounding region, while Ivo Georgiev oversees TIM’s Sofia operations and the group’s financial interests. Other notable members of the group include MIROSLAV PETROV NESTOROV (Bulgarian citizen born 12 March 1964), who is in charge of the group’s strategic planning and also is director of TIM’s large service sector subsidiary MUSTANG HOLDINGS; YORDAN DIMITROV YORDANOV (Bulgarian citizen born 24 November 1974), who oversees most of TIM’s media interests and also sits on Mustang’s board; and Nikolai Bozhidarov Nikolov (Bulgarian citizen born 28 August 1949), Mustang’s CEO and husband of Varna’s chief architect and city planner. TIM’s initial activities involved collecting bad debts — a line of business that has contributed to the group’s negative public image but which still remains one of its main activities — and providing security services in the Varna region. In the mid-1990s, the group branched out to agriculture and foodstuffs, and its current interests include grain storage and poultry farming, as well as the SUHINDOL winery (through the SEVERCO-GAMZA company), which predominantly produces red wines for both domestic consumption and export. In Varna, TIM’s presence is seen and felt everywhere. Its media interests include M-SAT television (a Varna-based broadcaster available nationally by cable and satellite), five other cable television stations, two cable television operators, Alpha Radio (also available nationally), „Cherno More“ newspaper (the largest circulation newspaper in Varna and its surrounding region), and the advertising agency servicing these media interests. TIM also owns a chain of restaurants, cinemas, video rental shops, sports clubs, Internet gaming clubs, and bingo halls. The recently-launched, large-scale ALLEY ONE project plans to build seven hotels, 500 eating and entertainment facilities, and 300 shops on a 250-acre tract on the Black Sea coast near Varna. TIM controls some of the largest quarries of inert materials in Bulgaria, and through its trading company, CHIMIMPORT, it also has a significant share of the production and trade in fertilizers, petroleum products, and chemicals. TIM’s takeover of CENTRAL COOPERATIVE BANK (CCB), the group’s largest acquisition to date, was facilitated through Chimimport. After acquiring CCB, TIM continued to expand its financial sector operations by acquiring specialized financial service companies, including the insurance company ARMEETS. Again going through Chimimport, in 2002, TIM acquired a majority stake in Newton Financial Management BG, owner of the Bulgarian pension insurance company SILA. Newton Financial Management BG has since been renamed CCB GROUP ASSETS MANAGEMENT. TIM has used its substantial financial sector presence to offer one-stop shopping of combined banking, insurance, and pension services. In 2003, Chimimport bought 49 percent of Bulgaria’s second-largest air carrier, HEMUS AIR, later taking over 100 percent ownership of Hemus. In 2004, Chimimport also acquired 100 percent of a smaller airline, VIAGGIO; the takeover was approved by Viaggio’s largest shareholder, TODOR BATKOV (see RUSSIAN INFLUENCE), Michael Chorny’s lawyer and personal representative. With its combined interests in Hemus and Viaggio, TIM is thought to have its sights set on Bulgaria’s soon-to-be-privatized flag carrier, BULGARIA AIR.
B. (C) VAI HOLDINGS (formerly VIS and VIS 2) Founded in 1991 by a former wrestler, Vasil Iliev, the group’s initial name, VIS, was an acronym for Vasil Iliev Security. After the group’s license to carry out security services was revoked, the group was renamed VIS 2. In 1994, Iliev set up the IMPERIAL brokerage company in Vratsa. In 1995, Iliev was shot dead, and his younger brother, GEORGI ANDREEV ILIEV (Bulgarian citizen born 22 July 1966, also known as „JORO“), took over the leadership of VIS 2, which has since been renamed VAI HOLDINGS. While „Joro“ Iliev is the recognized leader of VAI, his lieutenant, NIKOLAI MIRCHOV TSVETIN (Bulgarian citizen born 27 February 1965, also known as „THE TWIN“ and „KOKO“), is thought to be in charge of most of the group’s companies and activities. Other high-ranking members of VAI include ANTON BOYANOV and PLAMEN VASILEV TIMEV (Bulgarian citizen born 2 March 1952, also known as „GANDI“). In November 2003, another high-ranking member of VAI, METODI ZLATANOV METODIEV (Bulgarian citizen born 12 October 1965, also known as „METO ILIYANSKI“), disappeared; while police believe he was kidnapped and possibly killed, it is also possible he is in hiding. Before he was shot dead in Amsterdam in December 2003, KONSTANTIN DIMITROV (Bulgarian citizen born 21 November 1970, also known as „SAMOKOVETSA“) was one of the biggest smugglers in Bulgaria and the country’s top drug lord. Georgi Iliev, a relative of Dimitrov’s, was also his best man. After Dimitrov’s murder, VAI retained control of the drug market through ANTON PETROV MILTENOV (Bulgarian citizen born 28 October 1973, also known as „THE BEAK“), who is thought to have inherited Dimitrov’s smuggling and drugs operations. Another of Georgi Iliev’s close friends, DIMITAR ILIEV DZHAMOV (Bulgarian citizen born 15 July 1960), is involved in local drug dealing in central and southern Bulgaria. Dzhamov, an importer of Russian natural gas, is also thought to be involved in money laundering and to have ties to Turkish organized crime through the Turkish businessman YAMAN HAKI NAMLY. A former wrestler, Dzhamov started out in organized crime as the driver of the late ILIYA PAVLOV (see MULTIGRUP). As the largest player in the drugs market, VAI controls trafficking routes, production facilities, and distribution networks. The group is also involved in trafficking stolen automobiles from Western Europe to the former Soviet Union. Its other criminal activities include extortion and racketeering, illegal arms trading, gambling, prostitution, and smuggling.
VAI has extensive business interests in tourism, finance, entertainment, and manufacturing. It controls JUPITER insurance company, as well as SUNNY BEACH, one of Bulgaria’s largest resorts on the Black Sea coast north of Burgas. The group also owns a number of local soccer teams, and the XGROUND MODELING AGENCY is controlled by VAI through Georgi Iliev’s wife, MARIA DELCHEVA ILIEVA[1] (Bulgarian citizen born 25 May 1973, also known as MARIA DELCHEVA PENELOVA).
C. (C) INTERGROUP (formerly SIC) KRASIMIR ANDREEV MARINOV (Bulgarian citizen born 6 May 1964, also known as „THE BIG MARGIN“), the group’s current president and another former wrestler, founded SIC (and later INTERGROUP) with MLADEN MIHALEV (Bulgarian citizen born 13 October 1964, also known as „MADJO“), also a former wrestler, and RUMEN GOTZOV NIKOLOV (Bulgarian citizen born 26 May 1962, also known as „THE PASHA“). Nikolov is also connected to the UNION OF FORMER COMMANDOS (see below). The reported mastermind behind the group’s operations is VENTSISLAV DIMITROV STEFANOV (Bulgarian citizen born 28 November 1949). In April 2004, his son, DIMITAR VENTSISLAVOV DIMITROV (Bulgarian citizen born 15 September 1980) was kidnapped and has not been recovered. Intergroup’s illegal activities include narcotics (especially heroin), financial fraud (through its ties with the AMIGOS financial guarantee company), car thefts and trafficking in stolen automobiles, smuggling, extortion and racketeering, and prostitution. The group’s narcotics interests are handled mostly through its connections with IVAN TODOROV (see AMIGOS), who is thought to be one of the largest drug traffickers in the Balkans. KIRIL SOTIROV KIROV (Bulgarian citizen born 10 December 1953, also known as „THE JAPANESE“), known as the Roma drug baron, is connected to INTERGROUP and is also closely connected to IVAN TODOROV (see AMIGOS). Kirov, who is also involved in human trafficking and alien smuggling, barely survived a second assassination attempt in April 2005. Intergroup’s legal business interests range from sport teams (SLAVIA) to banking (FIRST EAST INTERNATIONAL BANK) and insurance to petroleum and metals trading to construction and real estate (SOFISKI IMOTI) to modeling (VISAGES). Ventsislav is the manager of the Slavia soccer team in Sofia. GEORGI LIALEV also serves on Slavia’s managing board. Lialev’s father, Traian Lialev, is Dean of the Law Faculty of Southwestern University in Blagoevgrad; through Lialev, Rumen Nikolov and Mladen Mihalev received law degrees. Georgi Lialev is also a business partner with RUMEN GAITANSKI (Bulgarian citizen, also known as „THE WOLF“), whose company, WOLF 96, also has connections with Intergroup. The Visages modeling agency was founded in 1994 by EVGENIYA GEORGIEVA KALKANDZHIEVA (Bulgarian citizen born 20 February 1975); she is believed to have close ties to Krasimir Marinov. The group’s insurance company, BUL INS, is the largest insurer in Bulgaria. One area where the group’s legal and illegal activities coalesced is in car theft and automobile insurance. Automobiles insured by Bul Ins display special identity stickers meant to protect them from being stolen; cars not insured by Bul Ins are considered fair game. Intergroup also controls UNION INSURANCE.
D. (C) MULTIGRUP (also known as Multigroup and MG) MG’s founder and president, ILIYA PAVLOV (Bulgarian-born, naturalized American citizen born 6 August 1960) was shot dead in Sofia on 7 March 2003. Once the largest organized crime group in Bulgaria, Pavlov started to move MG into legitimate businesses, comprised of hundreds of subsidiary companies with interests in natural resources and mining, finance, tourism, manufacturing, and food commodities. In 2001, Pavlov and his deputy, BOYANA GEORGIEVA POPOVA (Bulgarian citizen born 17 October 1960) established MG ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY (MG AM) to take over all of MG’s assets and adopt a legitimate, internationally-acceptable management structure. MG AM’s parent company, MG VENTURES (registered and headquartered in Delaware) was owned in equal parts by Pavlov and Popova. Following Pavlov’s murder, Popova became the group’s CEO and Pavlov’s 50 percent stake in MG Ventures was transferred to his widow, DARINA PAVLOVA (Bulgarian-born, naturalized American citizen), and children through the Pavlovi Trust. Pavlov’s father, PAVEL NAYDENOV (Bulgarian citizen born 16 June 1936), was once very active in MG’s management. However, following his son’s death and subsequent disputes with Popova and Pavlova, Naydenov resigned from his positions in MG and set up his own holding company, KREPOST 2002. In 2004, Popova announced that MG would start selling a large number of its assets in order to focus primarily on investment projects and tourism. There were also reports that Popova preferred to re-direct the group’s efforts from the Balkans to U.S.-based activities. While MG’s activities in the Balkans have significantly declined, one of its highest profile subsidiaries remains BALKANTOURIST, the largest tour operator in Bulgaria, catering especially to tourists from Western Europe. DIMITAR HRISTOV IVANOV (Bulgarian citizen born 19 April 1951) was the president of MG’s first subsidiary (MULTIART) in the early 1990s before becoming a vice president of MG under Pavlov. Since leaving MG, Ivanov is now the director of EVROPA HOLDINGS. Another former MG employee, SASHO GEORGIEV DONCHEV (Bulgarian citizen born 7 September 1953), is the executive director of OVERGAS (also known as OVERGAZ). Overgas was established in 1992 as a joint venture between MG and the Russian state-owned GAZPROM; the company quickly became the largest private importer and provider of natural gas in Bulgaria. Overgas is also involved in constructing and managing gas pipelines and other infrastructure. The company has links to VAI HOLDINGS through JUPITER INSURANCE, of which Overgas has a 35 percent stake; Jupiter’s activities include insurance for financial risk, cargo, and gas pipelines. YURI VYAKHIREV, the son of a former Gazprom director, REM VYAKHIREV, is a close associate of Donchev and also a partner in Overgas.
E. (C) UNION OF FORMER COMMANDOS (also known as SPARTAK) ALEXEI ILIEV PETROV (Bulgarian citizen born 23 April 1962) is a former officer in the elite special unit for combating terrorism. He and his grouping of former military commandos (also known as „berets“) are most actively involved in the insurance sector through LEVSKI SPARTAK INSURANCE (previously known as „APOLLO & BOLKAN“ and „SPARTAK“). Petrov also owns the largest taxi company in Sofia, TAXI S EXPRESS, which has more than 3500 cars. It is believed that Petrov’s involvement in Taxi S Express, Levski Spartak, and other companies bearing the Spartak name have been disguised as Israeli investment; Petrov is closely linked to former Israeli ambassador to Sofia, DAVID KOEN. Another member of the group, ZLATOMIR IVANOV (Bulgarian citizen, also known as „THE BERET“) was a former director of APOLLO & BOLKAN and is currently director of ARKUS SECURITY. Ivanov oversees the group’s smuggling, extortion, and racketeering activities, among other illegal activities. The group is thought to have the largest share in Sofia’s escort and intimate services businesses, which are used as fronts for prostitution and trafficking in women for sexual exploitation.
F. (C) NOVE HOLDINGS VASIL KRUMOV BOZHKOV (Bulgarian citizen born 29 July 1956, also known as „THE SKULL“) founded his first company in 1990, before expanding to his current business empire, NOVE HOLDINGS, comprising over 30 companies and numerous subsidiaries. NOVE’s primary legal business interests include gambling (bingo halls, casinos, and the popular EUROFOOTBALL lottery) and duty free shops. Bozhkov also owns the CSKA soccer team in Sofia and the J MODELS modeling agency. He is also believed to control RISK ENGINEERING, which was originally part of the MG empire. Bozhkov’s numerous media connections include TOSHO TOSHEV (chief editor and managing director of TRUD, the largest-circulation daily newspaper in Bulgaria), KEVORK KEVORKIAN (popular television show host on state-owned BNT), and RADOSVET RADEV (owner of DARIK RADIO). In 2002, NOVE sold the majority share of Eurofootball lottery to the Greek billionaire SOKRATIS KOKALIS, reducing the holding’s share to 49 percent. Bozhkov publicly thanked prominent businessman SPAS RUSEV for facilitating the deal. Rusev is closely linked to the NMSS; as a close friend and personal advisor of Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha, Rusev is credited with putting together the NMSS economic team, including Milen Velchev (Finance Minister) and Nikolai Vassilev (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transportation). NOVE’s casinos include the LONDON CASINO at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Sofia and the RILA CASINO at the Rila Hotel, also in Sofia. Bozhkov is thought to control the Rila Hotel, both through IRENA MARINOVA (director of the hotel’s owner, RIEL 99, and board member of the hotel’s management company), and through ANTONI NAUMOV (director of the hotel’s management company). Marinova is also a shareholder in BUL INS (see INTERGROUP), along with Bozhkov (through NOVE). Naumov and Bozhkov are partners in several companies, including CSKA basketball team. Bozhkov has used his influence to block the transfer of the approximately 49 percent of the Rila Hotel, subject of long-running property restitution case, claimed by Bulgaria’s Jewish community. Bozhkov’s illegal activities include money laundering, privatization fraud, intimidation, and extortion and racketeering. Bozhkov is also connected to INTERGROUP (through the company IGM, which he owns jointly with MLADEN MIHALEV, and NOVE’s shares in BUL INS) and to IVAN TODOROV (see INTERGROUP and AMIGOS).
G. (C) DZI (formerly Rosexim Bank) EMIL ALEXANDROV KYULEV (Bulgarian citizen born 5 June 1957) made his fortune through Tourist Sports Bank (also known as TS Bank), which went bankrupt under his leadership. In 1995, SIPDIS he founded the BULGARIAN-RUSSIAN INVESTMENT BANK (also known as BRI BANK), and, after leaving BRI Bank in 1997, Kyulev joined the board of directors of BULSTRAD INSURANCE. In 1998, Kyulev bought the Plovdiv-based Trakia Bank, which he re-registered as ROSEXIM BANK. Rosexim Bank’s largest client is the Bulgarian government, which channels all tax, customs, and excise payments through the bank. The bank also provides financial services to Russia’s LUKOIL and MOBILTEL (the largest mobile telephone operator in Bulgaria, also known as MTEL). In addition to Kyulev’s connections to MICHAEL CHORNY (see RUSSIAN INFLUENCE) through MTEL, TODOR BATKOV (Michael Chorny’s lawyer and personal representative), served on Rosexim Bank’s board of directors until 2003. In 2004, Rosexim Bank was renamed DZI BANK, finalizing the merger between Rosexim Bank and DZI, the former state-owned insurance company, which Kyulev acquired in 2002. Kyulev’s criminal activities include fraud and money laundering. Kyulev has recently employed a U.S. lobby group and public relations agency to clean up and manage his image. As part of his campaign to gain credibility and legitimacy, he has also recently established the DZI Foundation to combat human trafficking; Kyulev is suspected of using the foundation as a channel to launder money.
H. (C) LITEX COMMERCE Again a former wrestler and current member of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation, GRISHNA DANAELOV[2] GANCHEV (Bulgarian citizen born 10 December 1962) owns a chain of gas stations and is one of the top three petroleum importers in Bulgaria. His company, LITEX COMMERCE, also owns the QUEEN brand of fruit juices. Ganchev was one of the first organized crime leaders to use a sports team to launder money, through the LITEX soccer team in Lovech. Litex also owns the Lovech-based VINAL winery, which produces wine for domestic consumption and export to Europe, as well as vodka for export. Litex’s illegal activities include petroleum smuggling, financial fraud and money laundering, and extortion and racketeering.
I. (C) MIG GROUP (also known as COOL PASS[3]) The MIG GROUP, headed by SLAVCHO PENCHEV BINEV (Bulgarian citizen born 10 December 1965, also known as „SLAVY“), owns more than 30 nightclubs, bars, and restaurants in Sofia, including the popular nightclubs BIAD, DALI, and BIBLIOTEKA. GEORGI STOYANOV (Bulgarian citizen) and MIHAIL STEFANOV (Bulgarian citizen) are „Slavy“ Binev’s two deputies. The group’s business interests also include construction and tourism; it operates a travel agency as part of its COOL PLACE entertainment complex. The group’s criminal activities include prostitution, narcotics, and trafficking stolen automobiles.
J. (C) AMIGOS IVAN TODOROV (Bulgarian citizen born 27 December 1964, also known as „THE DOCTOR“) is no longer part of Amigos but still maintains close ties to group, especially for money laundering and other financial services. PETAR HRISTOV PETROV (Bulgarian citizen born 15 September 1969), a cousin of MLADEN MIHALEV (see INTERGROUP), is a close associate of Todorov, and is also actively involved in money laundering and other financial crimes.
K. (C) VUZRAZHDANE BUSINESS CLUB VUZRAZHDANE Business Club was founded in 2001 jointly by VASIL BOZHKOV (see NOVE HOLDINGS), EMIL KYULEV (see DZI), ILIYA PAVLOV (see MULTIGRUP), BORISLAV DIONISIEV, DOBROMIR GUSHTEROV, PETIO BLASKEV[4] (owner of the weekly newspaper 168 HOURS), TOSHO TOSHEV (chief editor and managing director of TRUD, the largest-circulation daily newspaper in Bulgaria), and RADOSVET RADEV (owner of DARIK RADIO). With Pavlov’s death in 2003, and the departure of Gushterov and Dionosiev in 2004, the business club does not maintain the same importance it once did, but it still serves as a forum for cooperation between a number of economic interests. Gushterov, the owner of OREL G insurance company, and Dionisiev left the club in 2004 when Gushterov and PETAR MANDJUKOV founded a rival club of entrepreneurs, also called Vuzrazhdane. Mandjukov, an arms trader, owns PM GROUP, the parent company of INFOMEDIA, PM PRESS (the publisher of the Socialist daily newspaper DUMA), and BALKAN BULGARIAN TELEVISION (BBT). MACHINEXPORT, a company owned by Mandjukov and Dionisiev, was named in the Duelfer Report for its connections to Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq.
L. (C) RUSSIAN INFLUENCE Russia continues to exercise significant influence over the Bulgarian economy through energy imports, including crude oil, natural gas and nuclear fuel. When Bulgaria’s only retail gas distributor, PETROL AD, was privatized, it came under the control of Russian businessman DENIS ERSHOV. ERSHOV was banned from entering Bulgaria in August 2000, having been cited as a threat to the country’s national security; however the ban was lifted in 2004 on Ershov’s appeal. Ershov, once vice president of one of the biggest exporters of Russian crude oil, established the NAFTEX group in 1991, of which PETROL AD became a part. Ershov was a member of the NAFTEX BULGARIA HOLDING (now PETROL HOLDING), and is a member of the PETROL AD Supervisory Board. Despite the fact that he is no longer the owner of Bulgarian telephone operator MOBILTEL (MTEL), Russian mobster MICHAEL CHORNY is thought to retain influence over the company through his ties to members of Austrian Mobiltel Holding. Acquired from Chorny by Austrian Mobiltel Holding and Austrian Bank BAWAG in 2002, MTEL was sold in July 2004 in the largest-ever leveraged buy-out in Central and Eastern Europe. The takeover was engineered through the Bulgarian joint stock company BIDCO. BIDCO shares the same office building with Chorny’s lawyer, TODOR BATKOV, who is still a member of MTEL’s board. Batkov and other representatives of Chorny allegedly put pressure on the Bulgarian Government to delay the issuing of the third GSM license to BTC in July 2004. Indeed, the Supreme Administrative Court decided 15 July 15 2004 to postpone the launch of the BTC GSM license. The court decision suggests that Chorny is still in control of MTEL, as the judge presiding over the Supreme Administrative Court panel for the BTC case also revoked the Government’s decision banning Chorny from entering the country. In addition, Chorny has connections to EMIL KYULEV (see DZI) through his interests in DZI BANK (formerly Rosexim Bank), which is owned by Kyulev. Todor Batkov served on Rosexim’s board of directors until 2003. CHORNY has also maintained influence over a number of companies by transferring ownership to Batkov. These entities include the LEVSKI football team, STANDARDT newspaper, and BANKYA PALACE hotel. LUKOIL’s representative in Bulgaria is VALENTIN ZLATEV. The Russian petroleum company is estimated to be the largest corporate taxpayer in Bulgaria. It also controls Russian oil exports to Bulgaria. Lukoil’s Bulgarian operations, through Zlatev, are suspected of strong ties to Russian intelligence and organized crime.
M. (C) AKB CORPORATION. The AKB CORPORATION, headed by NIKOLAI YORDANOV BANEV (Bulgarian citizen born 16 August 1959), was involved mainly in privatizing state-owned industries. Its primary illegal activities include privatization fraud and corruption.
—————————————- POLITICS: THE NEXUS WITH ORGANIZED CRIME —————————————-
8. (C) Organized crime has a corrupting influence on all Bulgarian institutions, including the government, parliament and judiciary. In an attempt to maintain their influence regardless of who is in power, OC figures donate to all the major political parties. As these figures have expanded into legitimate businesses, they have attempted — with some success — to buy their way into the corridors of power. During the 2001 general elections, a number of influential „businessmen,“ including VASIL BOZHKOV and EMIL KYULEV, heavily financed and otherwise supported the NMSS campaign. At the beginning of his term in office in 2001, Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha held a high-profile meeting with members of Vuzrazhdane in which he invited Iliya Pavlov, Vasil Bozhkov, et al, to become part of a „business consultative council“ advising the government. Later that year, Kyulev helped finance the successful presidential campaign of BSP leader Georgi Purvanov.
9. (C) Ahmed Dogan, the leader of the government’s junior coalition partner, attended Iliya Pavlov’s funeral in 2003, making no attempt to conceal his close relationship with the slain Multigrup chairman. During the 2005 election campaign, business interests with connections to OC (including LUKOIL and Sasho Donchev’s OVERGAS), Bozhkov, Kyulev, and others spread their support and money across the political spectrum, focusing primarily on the NMSS and the BSP, in an effort to ensure that their interests were protected whatever the outcome of the vote.
10. (C) Below the level of the national government and the leadership of the major political parties, OC „owns“ a number of municipalities and individual members of parliament. This direct participation in politics — as opposed to bribery — is a relatively new development for Bulgarian OC. DOBROMIR GUSHTEROV, a founding member of Vuzrazhdane a major BSP sponsor, won a seat in parliament on the BSP ticket this year. Gushterov’s was one of several „insurance“ companies engaged in extortion and racketeering in the years immediately following the collapse of communism. At the municipal level, a by-election earlier this year in the town of Svilingrad, on the Bulgarian-Turkish border, resulted in the complete takeover of the municipal government by figures who have made little attempt to conceal their links to powerful smuggling interests. Similarly in the regional center of Velingrad, OC figures control the municipal council and the mayor’s office. Nearly identical scenarios have played out in half a dozen smaller towns and villages across Bulgaria.
——- COMMENT ——-
11. (C) Despite continuing pressure from the U.S. and the EU, past Bulgarian governments have done little to reduce the presence of organized crime. As a result, OC has increased its influence and is able to operate with virtual impunity. The Bulgarian public recognizes OC’s corrupting influence, and people are clearly frustrated by the government’s inability or unwillingness to deal with the problem. We continue to provide technical assistance to reform-minded elements of the Bulgarian government and judiciary — and to speak out on the need to fight corruption and organized crime — but real political leverage on this issue lies with the EU. A delay in Bulgaria’s accession would be politically disastrous for the incoming government. If the EU uses this leverage to demand not only far-reaching judicial reform but effective implementation as well, there is reason to hope that the tide will slowly begin to turn against organized crime in the coming years.
PARDEW
[1] The first name of MARIA ILIEVA is MAYA.
[2] DANAILOV, not DANAELOV
[3] COOL PLACE, not COOL PASS
[4] BLASKOV, not BLASKEV
Comments on the cable from the editors of Bivol.bg
Bivol received the uncensored text of James Pardew’s cable, dated July 7, 2005. It was provided for us by the magazine “Russkiy Reporter” (Russian Reporter), which is preparing a publication about the influence of Russian mafia in Bulgaria. The magazine asked us to verify the authenticity of the names and the events, and to prepare comments on the faith of the emblematic organized crime bosses, cited in the cable.
We must note that we have no contract or financial relations with “Russkiy Reporter,” its owners and its sources of information. Our professional contacts end with the work on this particular case: summarizing and offering factual information and our editorial analysis of the cable.
The cable’s authenticity was confirmed by another source – the Norwegian paper Aftenposten, which has independent access to all diplomatic cables leaked through Wikileaks.
We examined in detail the entire text and did not find in it a single name of a person that must be concealed for safety reasons, because they have provided information about organized crime to the American Embassy.
We cannot sign under claims of involvement of the quoted individuals and companies with organized crime, like Ambassador Pardew did – he had available sources and methods of collecting information way beyond the possibilities of journalism.
But, as the readers will see for themselves, the cable talks about the total invasion of the State by organized crime – no more and no less.
The mafia, on its part, has a direct connection with the remnants of the Communist Secret Services (DS) and the Russian ones (KGB); a connection which we can say, without falling in the trap of conspiracy theories, is alive today.
Bulgarians must further know this now, because the signing, with Russian monopolists, of some very controversial from economic and strategic point of view contracts for energy projects is pending: South Stream and the “Belene” Nuclear Power Plant.
These projects were supported by NDSV (the decision to build “Belene” was made personally by Simeon Saxe-Coburg in the beginning of his term), by BSP and the President Parvanov.
In 2005, Ambassador Pardew writes that individuals connected to both Bulgarian organized crime and Russian financial and economic interests in the energy sector have finances political campaigns of NDSV, BSP and President Parvanov in order to maintain their positions. Their names are spelled out in the cable.
We also learn that oligarchs, close to now Prime Minister Borisov are considered by our American partners to be close to Russian intelligence.
It is obvious, the financial influence of these circles is not an isolated occurrence, but rather an event that is reproduced in the political cycle. There is a real threat that it would become a factor during the forthcoming local and presidential elections as well. The voters have the right to know how, by whom, and for what reasons their trust is being transformed.
Assessing the information from the point of view of public interest, we believe the only right thing to do is to publish the full, uncensored text of the cable with the following comments:
7.A. TIM
The TIM-owned Balkan Hemus Group bought BULGARIA AIR in November 2006.
The expansion of TIM continued through the years, and with GERB’s accession to power, the group became even more powerful. TIM leaders have always been nervous about being mentioned in the press, and in mainstream media, there is a real taboo on writing or speaking about the group.
The ALLEY ONE project is ongoing, but with the strong opposition of Varna’s civil society insisting that the land was sold to TIM by the State at a very low price. In 2009-2010, prominent civil activists reported that they have been intimidated by TIM members. However, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, apprehensively refuses to answer journalists’ questions related to ALLEY ONE and TIM.
Recently, the Capital weekly reported about suspicious money transfers from the TIM-owned pension insurance company SILA to other TIM-related businesses:
About 10 days ago, the German investigative journalist Jurgen Roth alleged in his blog that the Head of the Bulgarian Central Bank, Ivan Iskrov, has provided cover-up for suspicious financial operations of TIM:
It is believed, TIM have monopolized grain production and grain storage in the country, leading to a significant raise of bread and sunflower oil prices. Former Prime Minister, Ivan Kostov, recently called this cartelization “criminal” but avoided mentioning TIM.
The Member of the Parliament, Emil Radev, from Borisov’s ruling GERB is the TIM man in the government. Like the TIM founders, he is a former marine (navy seal), and while not directly working for them, he has strong business and personal ties with the group. Radev is proposing a legal amendment limiting public access to the Business (Trade) Registry of Bulgaria’s Registry Agency. If the amendment is passed, it will become a significant hurdle for investigative journalists attempting to expose shady business relationships.
7.B. VAI HOLDINGS (formerly VIS and VIS2)
ANTON PETROV MILTENOV – „THE BEAK“ was shot dead in July 2005, in downtown Sofia, just a few days after this cable was edited.
GEORGI ILIEV was shot dead in the VAI owned Buda bar in SUNNY BEACH in August 2005.
PLAMEN VASILEV TIMEV – “GANDI” is actually a key witness against ALEXEI PETROV – “THE TRACTOR”
DIMITAR ILIEV DZHAMOV –is very close to the Major or the city of Sliven, former star soccer player Yordan Letchkov. The Dzhamov-owned firms are said to regularly win public contracts from the Sliven municipality. Lechkov-supported public contracts are also investigated by OLAF, the European Anti-fraud Office.
7.C. INTERGROUP (formerly SIC)
KRASIMIR ANDREEV MARINOV and his brother, Nikolay, known as THE MARGUINS BROTHERS were arrested in October 2005, on charges of plotting the murders of former Communist Secret Services – State Security (DS) Chief, Gen. Lyuben Gotzev, of Ivan Todorov AKA The Doctor and of the TIM financial director, NIKOLA DAMYANOV (not mentioned in this cable).
DAMYANOV, who is believed to be TIM’s strategic planner, died from natural causes in October, 2007.
The Marguins trial turned into a farce; based on lack of evidence of ties with organized crime, they received not-guilty verdicts – Krasimir aka The Big Marguin is free on recognizance; Nikolay aka The Little Marguin was tried in absence – he disappeared right after the January murder of controversial radio host, Bobi Tsankov, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
IVAN TODOROV – “The Doctor” was shot dead in his car on February 22, 2006; he was sprayed with 15 bullets.
Strangely enough, this cable lacks information about the huge political scandal surrounding the first assassination attempt on “The Doctor,” in 2003. He survived a bomb blast in his car, but the then Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Boyko Borissov, reported pictures, found in the Doctor’s briefcase, were featuring Milen Velchev – Finance Minister, Plamen Petrov – Transport Minister, Miroslav Sevlievski – Member of the Parliament, and known-criminal, Peter Petrov AKA the Amigos, playing cards on the yacht of Spas Rusev (mentioned in the cable) in Monaco. The Doctor, himself, can be seen in the background of this same picture. The revelations were followed by a huge scandal, but no politicians were fired.
RUMEN GOTZOV NIKOLOV – THE PASHA disappeared from public life. There is proof about his business ties in the 90-ies with current Prime Minister BOYKO BORISSOV (the TEO INTERNATIONAL Company). They owned together a factory for the illegal production of cigarettes in Kraymorie, near Bourgas. The illegal manufacturing was discovered during an anti-mafia unit operation in 1996. Borissov then sold his shares in TEO INTERNATIONAL to Ivo Kamenov Georgiev from TIM.
MLADEN MIHALEV – „MADJO“ is living in Switzerland. In 2007, he appeared during The Marguins trial as a protected witness and then Minister of the Interior, Rumen Petkov, ordered exclusive security measures for him, surpassing those used to protect the President. In 2010, Madjo testified again during the Marguins trial. According to a publication of journalist, Ivo Indzhev, in 2003, President, Georgi Parvanov and Madjo were both at the birthday party of the Secretary of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, Evgeniy Uzunov.
Ventsislav Dimitrov Stefanov – associate in INTERGROUP, President of the Slavia soccer club, Rumen Nikolov – The Pasha, Boyko Borisov – Rapona and Nikolay Zlatev, president of TSBank. Photo by Capital
BOYKO BORISSOV – “RAPONA,” current Prime Minister of Bulgaria, who is not mentioned by US Ambassador, James Pardew in this cable, was a low-level associate of SIC. According to a report by the Capital weekly from November 1995, during an anniversary party organized by SIC, he was in charge of the group’s public relations (protection from journalists).
7.E Union of Former Commandos (also known as Spartak)
ALEXEI ILIEV PETROV – “The Tractor,” now State Enemy N°1, was arrested in February 2010 and charged with racketeering, smuggling, extortion, human trafficking. On year later, the charges are yet to be finalized and Petrov was released, first on house arrest, and then on own recognizance. He declared himself the main opponent of Prime Minister, Boyko Borissov, and announced he will be running for President at the November 2011 elections.
It is believed that in 2001, the Tractor was recruited as an undercover agent by the counterintelligence service, then named National Security Service.
In 2008-2009, the Tractor was appointed Special Advisor for the Director of the State Agency for National Security (DANS, known as the Bulgarian FBI), Petko Sertov. Analysts say he was the real boss of this main Bulgarian secret service unit.
ZLATOMIR IVANOV – „THE BERET“ was arrested in 2005 on drug trafficking and first-degree murder-for-hire charges. After five years of court sessions and numerous witness testimonies, his trial started all over again in November 2010, because one of the jurors was charged with child pornography.
“The Beret” was declared chronically ill – he is currently released from jail on bail, and kept under house arrest.
7.F. (C) NOVE HOLDINGS
Bozhkov’s relationships in politics and media is illustrated in this photo. From left to right: President Georgi Parvanov, Tosho Toshev – until recently Editor-in-Chief of the Trud daily, and Vassil Bozhkov – « The Scull »
Bozhkov’s connections with the media further stem from the Vazrazhdane club, and the close ties with the Communist State Security (Darzhavna Sigurnost, DS, or the Bulgarian KGB). Journalists Toshev, Radev, and Kevorkian have been exposed as DS collaborators. President Parvanov was also a DS agent under the alias « Gotse. »
7.G. (C) DZI (formerly Rosexim Bank)
EMIL KYULEV was shot dead in downtown Sofia in October, 2006. Three high-ranking government functionaries immediately and publicly declared Kyulev’s business was “clean” – they were Interior Minister , Rumen Petkov, Attorney General Nikola Filchev and President Parvanov.
Kyulev was officially appointed as Parvanov’s advisor. Journalist Ivo Indzhev writes in his book « President on the Edge », that Parvanov had extensive talks with Kyulev just hours before he was shot. According to Indzhev, after this conversation, Kyulev changed his plans to travel abroad and then he was gunned down.
7.I MIG GROUP
SLAVY BINEV joined the nationalist ATAKA party in 2007. ATAKA leaders were originally inspired and trained by Russian panslavic foundations. The party, known for its anti-Semitic and xenophobic discourse, entered the Bulgarian Parliament in 2005. On the same day election results were announced, Russian diplomats gave a party at the Embassy for the newly elected ATAKA Members of the Parliament. Binev was elected Member of the European Parliament in 2007 and in 2009. Together with Dimitar Stoyanov, the step-son of ATAKA leader, Volen Siderov, Binev is known as one of the most scandalous Members of the European Parliament.
7.J AMIGOS
In 2009, PETER PETROV AKA “The Amigos” was convicted on first instance to 5 years of jail time on charges of money laundering. His trial continues on appeal, but has been closed for the media on February 28, 2011.
7.K VUZRAZDANE BUSINESS CLUB
PETAR MANDJUKOV is one of the oligarchs from President Parvanov’s closest circle.
He has been bestowed the country’s highest order Stara Planina. Mandjukov, reportedly, gave Parvanov as a gift two apartments in a building owned by businessman Lazov, who is also close to the President. In 2007, then TV journalist, Ivo Indzev, was fired on the spot from the TV Channel bTV, after talking about these deals in his show. (The US State Department reported the case.)
7.L RUSSIAN INFLUENCE
VALENTIN ZLATEV is close to current Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. When visiting the Black Sea cities of Varna and Burgas, Borissov, reportedly, is not staying at the official government residence, but in a hotel at the Obzor beach resort, owned by Zlatev’s father.
At the end of the 90-s, just after LUKOIL purchased the oil refinery plant, the IPON company, headed by Boyko Borissov, was assigned with providing security for all LUKOIL pipelines in Bulgaria– a major deal and source of revenue for years to come.
When Boyko Borissov was appointed in 2001 by former Tsar and Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg as Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry, he hired LUKOIL’s former Security Chief, Krasimir Petrov, as Chief of the Burgas police and gave him a General ranking.
Later, Krasimir Petrov was promoted by Interior Minister Rumen Petkov (whose US visa has been recalled) to the post Chief of the Bulgarian Border Police. Now retired, he keeps his position in the LUKOIL security services.
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