Expats

Bulgaria's Ruling Party Also Involved in 'Hochegger Affair' [Mar 15, 2012] The scandal with Bulgaria's involvement in the Hochegger affair has taken a new turn, after it was revealed that Rositza Velkova, head of the Bulgarian office of the company of the Austrian lobbyist, is a close friend of Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov. According to Bulgaria's Trade Registry, Velkova was the manager of Hochegger BG from November 2008 to the summer of 2009. Velkova is a ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Minister: No Grounds for Legal Action over 'Hochegger Affair' [Mar 15, 2012] Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov has denied the existence of a personalized attack against Monika Yanova, PR expert and live-in girlfriend of socialist leader Sergey Stanishev in connection with the 'Hochegger affair'. In a Thursday interview for private TV station bTV, Naydenov specified that his comments on the scandal with the Austrian lobbyist had been quotes of publications in ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Ex PM, Austrian Lobbyist Implicated in Graft Scheme [Mar 10, 2012] The scandal with Austrian lobbyist Peter Hochegger, who is said to have bribed Austrian politicians with money received from Bulgaria, has stirred controversies in both countries. In 2008, Hochegger's PR agency was hired by the Three-way Coalition government to hold a one-year promotional campaign to boost Bulgaria's image in the EU. The public procurement was worth around EUR 1 M. ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Ex-Transport Minister Claims He Resigned, Was Not Ousted [May 18, 2011] Bulgaria's former Transport Minister Alexander Tsvetkov has claimed he resigned his post over "personal reasons" and was not ousted due to failed policies and lobbyist deals. As Tsvetkov somewhat surprisingly resigned his position on Wednesday, various statements and media reports suggested that the reasons for his dismissal have to do with the bad performance over the absorption of EU funds ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Transport Minister Ousted over Investigation, Failures - Report [May 18, 2011] Even though Bulgaria's Transport Minister Alexander Tsvetkov has formally resigned his post over "personal reasons", there are indications that he was ousted because of failed policies and lobbyist deals. Tsvetkov somewhat surprisingly resigned his position on Wednesday, the only explanation on part of the Transport Ministry being that her had personal motives for this move. Various statements ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Govt Said to Be Under Lobbyist Pressure [May 14, 2010] Bulgaria's Transport Minister Alexander Tsvetkov says the decision to relax bus categorization is not caused by lobbyist pressure. Photo by BGNES [via YahooNews] More >>