15 Oct 2010 / 11:39
A Bulgarian court has acquitted prominent German journalist Jurgen Roth of slander charges brought by Bulgaria's former interior minister Rumen Petkov.
Boryana Dzhambazova
On Thursday the Sofia Regional Court ruled that Roth is not guilty and rejected Petkov’s demand to receive BGN 10,000 (EUR 5,000) in damages. The decision can be appealed within 15 days before the Sofia City Court.
The former interior minister sued Roth for libel over “disgraceful and false claims”. In his book, “The New Demons”, the journalist alleged that Petkov had close ties with crime bosses. Excerpts from the book appeared in local newspapers in the spring of 2008 prior to the book’s official release in Bulgaria later that year.
In April 2008 Petkov was forced to step down from his post as an interior minister amid growing public pressure following the arrest of two high-ranking police officials and two separate incidents of mafia-style murders.
Part of the trial, which began in February this year, has been held behind closed doors. Shortly after one of the witnesses, Valentin Petrov, former chief secretary in the Interior Ministry, began his testimony, the trial was closed to the public because classified information was set to be revealed in the course of his testimony.
Roth did not attend the trial in Bulgaria, after expressing fears for his safety in the country earlier this year.
Petkov is currently a Socialist MP in Bulgaria's parliament. Balkan Insight could not reach Petkov for comment.
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