Measures addressing crime were mapped out at a meeting of representatives of the Interior Ministry and the security services, convened by Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov over the increasing number of serious crimes in the country.

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At a briefing after the meeting, Prime Minister Denkov stated that an internal problem had been ascertained within the Ministry of the Interior, and demanded the replacement of the Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Petar Todorov. For the moment no connection has been established between the different murders that have been given media coverage, such as the murder of Alexey Petrov and Krasimir Kamenov, a.k.a. Kuro in the Republic of South Africa.

“There is no question of a revival of the mafia times,” Minister of the Interior Kalin Stoyanov said. PM Denkov outlined the major preventive measures for combatting crime. The first of them is an improvement of the exchange of information between the institutions, especially with regard to the trafficking of drugs and migrants, crimes against persons and the fight against corruption, as well as an intensification of the efforts against so-called political umbrellas. The activities of the services connected with advance information are also to be intensified. Work with individuals with influence in the sphere of security will be proactive, so as to make it clear that any attempt to break the law will be sanctioned. Answering a reporter’s question about the media reports that former investigator Petyo Petrov, aka Petyo the Euro who is wanted on a European arrest warrant, has died suddenly of a heart attack in Dubai, the interior minister stated that there has been no confirmation so far but that the information is being checked.