Bulgarian journalist gunned down

The murder, which took place in broad daylight only a few hundred metres from the president’s office has raised questions about Bulgaria’s ability to deal with its powerful criminal underworld.

Thirty year-old Boris “Bobi” Tsankov was shot dead by two gunmen. His two bodyguards were also wounded. He is the second Bulgarian journalist to be murdered for tackling the topic of Bulgaria’s murky underworld in the past two years. In 2008, Georgi Stoev, author of four books about Bulgaria’s crime world, was killed in Sofia.

Tsankov is reported to be have been the subject of fraud investigations by Bulgarian police between 2003 and 2006. More recently, he attracted publicity with a series of articles in the “Weekend” tabloid, focusing on the life of Bulgaria’s top mafia bosses. He also published a book about the people involved in drug trafficking and ransom-motivated kidnappings.

The government of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, which came to power last July, is determined to convince the European Union that relative newcomer Bulgaria is coping with its corruption and organized crime problem. In a July 2009 report, the EC accused Sofia of turning a blind eye on its organized crime. It said that street killings continue, while well-known criminals are released from jail or receive light sentences, effectively granting them impunity.

Spokesman for the European Commission, Mark Gray said, “Shootings continue to be a problem that need to be urgently addressed in Bulgaria.” He added that, “Any shooting is unacceptable, and we hope that the Bulgarian authorities will bring those who have perpetrated this act to justice as quickly as possible.”

A report by the Centre for the Study of Democracy says Bulgarian crime gangs harvest about €250 million annually. Its experts point to the worrying trend of mafia money being invested into the political arena. According to these experts, up to €100 million may have been spent on buying votes in local elections last October.