Prime minister Kiril Petkov is using the name of a senior US State Department official to suppress political opponents, members of parliament from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) told an emergency news conference. Petkov is referring to Ambassador James O'Brien, head of the US State Department’s Office of Sanctions Coordination, to intimidate the MRF, the Movement’s leader Mustafa Karadayi said.
The instance is from the most recent Question Time in the National Assembly and was revealed to us by the MRF deputy chairman and member of parliament Stanislav Anastassov, who became the object of the threat. “On my way out of the plenary hall, and while passing by the so-called "crib" (where the ministerial benches are), I was gestured aside by Petkov,” Anastassov said. “I stayed a meter and a half away, as I am against having quiet words spoken to me,” the MP added.
"Kiril Petkov said: “I will finish you off!" I could not believe my ears. "Pardon me?", I replied, and he stated: "I will fix you. James O'Brien is the name. Wait for news within three weeks." I asked Petkov to go to the speaker podium and repeat that. But he leaned back and repeated: "Wait for news in three weeks!". There were colleagues from my group behind me, there were plenty of witnesses to the incident," Stanislav Anastassov said.
The same day, the prime minister did not respond to our questions seeking to clarify the assertions he made of a non-existent connection of the MRF with various “streams” – South Stream, Turk Stream, Balkan Stream. After we warned that we would submit a proposal for setting up a committee to inspect this subject, the PM apparently lost his temper. Petkov made direct threats to the MRF through the party's deputy chairman, Stanislav Anastasov, Mustafa Karadayi said.
This was the reason why last week we sent a letter to Mr. James O'Brien and raised the matter with him of who, how and why is authorized to use his name, especially to threaten political opponents, Karadayi said.
Today, the MRF submitted a proposal to Parliament for setting up a temporary inquiry committee tasked with establishing all the facts and circumstances concerning the natural gas pipeline projects where the Russian Federation is concerned, namely South Stream and Turk Stream (also called Balkan Stream in Bulgaria), and the reasons for the delay of the Natural Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria project.
After prime minister Kiril Petkov spoke to the media and told them some falsehoods about the MRF, regarding South Stream, Turk Stream, Balkan Stream (whoever wants to call it that; the official names of the two are South Stream and Turk Stream), we presented him with questions on the matter that he was supposed to answer at the most recent Question Time. Mr. Petkov did not provide any answers. He would not even care to explain what arguments he has when suggesting something that is not based on any facts, Mustafa Karadayi said.
Therefore, we declared from the speaker podium of the National Assembly that we would submit a proposal for setting up a temporary inquiry committee tasked with establishing all facts and circumstances surrounding the allegations by the prime minister, Karaday said. He added that the draft proposal had already been filed with the National Assembly administration. Additionally, we want everything related to the so-called “streams” sorted out, Karadayi added.
Yet again, I would like to declare that the MRF will act in response to every single lie by the “Capital” media syndicate of the oligarch and media monopolist Ivo Prokopiev and his proxies, including the most recent insinuations made by analysts in his company, Karadayi said. He recalled a statement by the former caretaker minister of transport Georgi Todorov, who responded to these matters with utmost precision and clarity. Mr. Karadayi argued that analysts should stick to the facts, and not make allegations and spread untruths.
Today or tomorrow at the latest, we will make moves on our part because when there is public official information, the facts are clear, Karadayi said.
