Protected Bulgarian crimelords are suing OneCoin whistleblowers
Bulgarian crimelords and their associates are targeting whistleblower journalists exposing links between OneCoin, Bulgarian organized crime and local authorities.
Instead of investigating OneCoin and the ongoing criminal activities surrounding the Ponzi scheme, Attorney General Ivan Geshev frames whistleblower reports as “an alleged plot to incriminate him and high-ranking magistrates and police officers”.
While I disagree with the synopsis that Ruja Ignatova was murdered on a yacht in 2018, back in February a report from BIRD presented damning evidence of corruption and protection of criminals by Bulgarian authorities.
At the center of the “Ruja was killed on a yacht” theory is Bulgarian crimelord Christophoros Amanatidis-Taki, who is believed to be hiding out in Dubai.
BIRD’s report claimed Taki ordered the hit on Ruja Ignatova.
Taki ordered the murder of the cryptoqueen Ruja Ignatova, which happened in November 2018 on a yacht in the Ionian Sea, more than a year after as Ruja was last seen in Athens.
The body of the murdered woman was cut up and thrown into the water.
BIRD’s reporting is based on a leaked police report from the safe of Lyubomir Ivanov, former head of the criminal division of Bulgaria’s National Police.
Ivanov was shot dead under murky circumstances in March 2022.
Taki is good friends with Mikhail Naumov, head of Bulgaria’s Federal Homicide Department.
The documents also detail numerous luxury yacht trips taken by Mikhail Naumov and his family, all purportedly funded by Taki and his associates.
When Bird presented the documents to Bulgarian authorities, Public Prosecutors verified them as authentic but clarified nobody was investigating Ignatova’s death or corruption linked to Naumov.
Since then BIRD’s reporter behind the article, Dimitar Stoyanov and Atanas Tchobanov, have been sued by Razmig Kerope “Ami” Chakaryan.
Chakaryan, who wasn’t mentioned in BIRD’s reporting, is an associate of Taki’s.
Charkaryan filed two lawsuits against BIRD journalist Dimitar Stoyanov and three against BIRD editor-in-chief Atanas Tchobanov.
A sixth lawsuit was filed against Nikolay Marchenko from Bivol.bg.
All six lawsuits are understood to have been filed at the Sofia District Court and each demanded BGN 10,000 (5,130 euros) for alleged defamation and “moral damage”.
All lawsuits were brought against the individual journalists, rather than their media outlets.
The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), of which BIRD is a member organization of, claims Chakaryan lawsuits are strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).
The International Press Institute claims the lawsuits “clearly represent retaliatory and vexatious legal actions intended to pressure legitimate watchdog reporting.”
In step with Chakaryan’s lawsuits, Bulgarian authorities are also targeting Stoyanov and Tchobanov.
As reported by the International Press Institute, on March 16th Attorney General Ivan Geshev held a press-conference
describ(ing) reporting by journalists as part of an alleged plot to incriminate him and the high-ranking magistrates and police officers.
While Geshev did not identify the journalists directly, a screen behind him projected the names of Tchobanov and Stoyanov.
Geshev’s office followed up with an April 7th press-release, in which they published unredacted correspondence between Dimitar Stoyanov and a confidential source.
In response to Geshev’s office leaking protected correspondence, the Bulgarian division of the Association of European Journalists issued a press-release on April 10th;
The self-serving publication by the prosecutor’s office of photos from the communication of journalist Dimitar Stoyanov is an unscrupulous violation of the confidentiality of journalistic sources.
Journalists talking to sources is not a crime by default. The dramaturgical construction “organized criminal group to discredit the chief prosecutor” cannot justify such a scandalous action, which, apart from putting Stoyanov in danger, is a warning to every journalist and his sources.
Stoyanov’s leaked source has since been arrested on drug possession charges. OCCRP reports the arrest came
shortly before he was about to give an interview to Stoyanov about the role of a person close to Taki and named in the documents.
Geshev’s office is using the drug possession arrest to claim Stoyanov and other Bulgarian journalists are working with
an organized criminal group established for the purpose of obtaining proceeds from criminal activities, money laundering and tax crimes
On April 13th Geshev’s office announced it has initiated a criminal investigation and pre-trial proceedings.
The Committee to Protect Journalists additionally reported on April 24th;
The prosecutor’s office announced that it had started a pretrial investigation into an unidentified number of members of “an organized criminal group” who allegedly participated in influence peddling to “discredit and hinder” law enforcement and senior government officials.
Those convicted face a prison sentence of up to six years.
A few weeks after the criminal investigation announcement, Geshev was the target of a purported failed assassination attempt.
Bulgaria’s chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev has escaped unscathed after a large explosion occurred Monday near his car which the authorities have described as a targeted attack on him.
Attackers had placed a bomb at a bend in the road where traffic had to slow, Borislav Sarafov, head of the National Investigation Service, said according to local news site Mediapool.
They detonated the bomb at exactly the moment Geshev’s car went past, he said, describing it as a “professionally prepared attempt, and obviously well executed.”
“Obviously the bomb was intended to kill,” he said. Nevertheless, there were no injuries.
No group has claimed responsibility for Monday’s alleged attack.
How convenient.
OneCoin launched in 2014 and grew to be a $4 billion dollar Ponzi scheme, operated openly from Bulgaria’s capital Sofia.
Although the Ponzi scheme collapsed in 2017, OneCoin has continued to operate from the same office as a pyramid scheme.
Over the past nine years and to date, Bulgarian authorities have failed to investigate OneCoin or make any connected arrests.
The only OneCoin arrest in Bulgaria to date is Irina Dilkinska, at the behest of US authorities back in 2021.
Update 20th June 2023 – Ivan Geshev was fired by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev on May 15th.
Anyone able to provide a photo of Razmig Chakaryan, it’d be appreciated thanks.
Is this Razmig?
(Ozedit: link removed)
Edit
There is an article talking about an investigation:
(Ozedit: link removed)
If it helps, this is how to write his name in Bulgarian: Размиг Чакърян
I dunno what he looks like :D.
Apparently that Chakaryan/Chakarian is from Sofia, Bulgaria:
(Ozedit: link removed)
95% him unless someone has any other ideas.
I also believe this is Razmig Chakaryan:
(Ozedit: links removed)
Got him: trud.bg/%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD-%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE-%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D0%B4%D0%B0-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B1%D1%8F%D0%B3%D0%B0-%D0%BE%D1%82-%D0%B1%D1%8A%D0%BB%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F/
Removed links to the other guy so there’s no confusion.
Ivan Geshev repeats his false claim or lie. I quote from an extensive article:
share-your-photo.com/221efca5cc
slobodenpecat.mk/de/koj-sakal-da-go-ubie-glavniot-obvinitel-na-bugarija-obidot-za-atentat-nalikuva-na-onoj-vrz-kiro-gligorov/
The Bulgarian portal BLITZ.BG reported directly from the crime scene:
share-your-photo.com/edbc5782ce
youtube.com/watch?v=waFIBDu5FoA
Of course, that sounds very dramatic and increases the number of clicks…
More details here:
blitz.bg/intsidenti/versiya-izvrshitelite-imali-vizualen-kontakt-km-kolata-na-glavniya-prokuror-toy-v-momenta-e-video_news951198.html
Numerous Bulgarian media report on the so-called “assassination” of Ivan Geshev. One example:
Video from May 6, 2023 with 88,730 views and 354 comments.
Since Bulgarian videos are not subtitled, I do not know what has been reported. But the following screenshots show which topics have also been addressed.
– Ruja Ignatova and Sebastian Greenwood with two pyramids that have been labeled Bigcoin and OneCoin:
share-your-photo.com/fba474cb9a
– Ivan Geshev and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov are named in connection with corruption in Bulgaria:
share-your-photo.com/d72916ba6e
We do not know whether the assassination attempt on Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev was real or staged. Perhaps Geshev is under pressure in Bulgaria because many media are reporting that Bulgarian authorities have investigated OneCoin poorly or not at all. With an “assassination” Genshev could present himself as a “victim” of bad people and gain new sympathies.
youtube.com/watch?v=fba8vw9pq1g
Most commentators are enthusiastic about this video. Some voices:
HÖLLE:
Irina Naydenova:
Pansen Angelov:
Krasifried:
Dani Iwanow:
VladHS:
Do they have Oscars or Academy Awards in Bulgaria? This would surely be a top contender.
Doubts and contradictions multiply. 😀
A very informative and worth reading article from May 5, 2023.
share-your-photo.com/6bb071636e
The Bulgarian Interior Minister Demerdzhiev is also quoted several times in the article. Example:
segabg.com/hot/category-bulgaria/mvr-razbi-atentata-sreshtu-geshev
Note: Borislav Sarafov is the Deputy Prosecutor General.
How’s that going to happen when Bulgaria’s Attorney General and Public Prosecutors are threatening journalists with criminal charges?
First the mafia, then journalists? Why does Ivan Geshev have so many opponents and enemies?
Radio Free Europe reported on March 31, 2023:
share-your-photo.com/ce2c18f865
rferl.org/a/bulgaria-ivan-geshev-prosecutor-corruption-critics-
The following photo shows the huge crater left by the explosive device. No grass will grow there for the next 10 years…
share-your-photo.com/df7fb56093
twitter.com/POLITICOEurope/status/1653109923532660747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I was horrified after reading the following extensive post. I never expected that such a thing is possible in Europe!
verfassungsblog.de/impunity/
Puts into perspective why nothing has been done about OneCoin (and whatever else criminal activity has been ignored in Bulgaria over the years).
Pay off Geshev and there’s nobody above to hold him accountable.
On May 4, 2023, Ivan Geshev (center) commented on Twitter:
share-your-photo.com/8ad9c945d9
What values is Ivan Geshev talking about? Material ones (like bribes) or ideal ones?
twitter.com/IvanGeshevPG/status/1654044908754272256/photo/1
Why is no one responding to this tweet? The explanation is simple:
This is how Ivan Geshev prevents any critical comment!
kinsights.capital.bg/politics_and_society/2023/05/10/4481321_the_day_in_3_news_geshev_bomb_suspects_known_to_mia/
That was quick. If only there was an authority in Bulgaria that could investigate $4 billion dollar Ponzi schemes with the same urgency…
share-your-photo.com/eda76dfc49
slobodenpecat.mk/de/ne-uspea-prviot-obid-za-smena-na-bugarskiot-javen-obvinitel-geshev/
Now Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev is attacking his deputy Borislav Sarafov for expressing doubts about the “assassination”:
share-your-photo.com/71e9842297
bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/457887-prosecutor-general-asks-supreme-judicial-council-to-impose-disciplinary-punishme
Sounds like Borislav Sarafov should be promoted to Prosecutor General.
Quote from another article.
bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/457740-national-investigation-service-director-sarafov-files-report-against-prosecutor-
It is unbelievable that such a thing is possible in a state that has been a member of the European Union since 2007.
Article from 23. May 2023.
share-your-photo.com/1eb2cee2b9
euractiv.com/section/politics/news/besieged-bulgarian-chief-prosecutor-fights-back/
Article from 26. May 2023.
euractiv.com/section/politics/news/influential-bulgarian-mafia-boss-killed-in-south-africa/
Latest comment from WhistleBlowerFin in the matter of Ivan Geshev:
https://behindmlm.com/companies/onecoin/was-kamenovs-murder-in-south-africa-tied-to-onecoin/#comment-467282
share-your-photo.com/84c8dd8073
bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/476358-former-prosecutor-general-ivan-geshev-resigns-as-prosecutor
Ivan Geshev is a notorious liar. He claims that he has resigned from his post. In another article I read:
bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/476148-ivan-geshev-s-possible-return-as-prosecutor-to-supreme-cassation-prosecution-off
Thanks for the updates guys (and emails <3). I wanted to get to this today but have to get ready for a vet appointment (procedure).
Will dig in when I get back - but I will say "resign"? Dude got fired from what I skim read over before.
Ivan Geshev today on YouTube.
share-your-photo.com/185b864983
youtube.com/watch?v=rEvG0s74FBk
Currently 29,142 views and 91 comments.
Geshev even daring to have the EU flag as a backdrop makes me want to hurl.
The only country in the world where prosecutors and crooks act in cahoots to harass journalists.
Correction to comment #28.
The video is being diligently commented on. Now there are already 236 comments, although many comments were deleted. Most of the comments are negative, Ivan Geshev is very unpopular in Bulgaria.
What did the dismissed Bulgarian Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev delete on his YouTube channel? His new channel shows a total of 37,721 views:
share-your-photo.com/37107da405
However, his only video from June 19, 2023 has only 17,979 views:
share-your-photo.com/91577cc34a
That’s a huge difference of 19,742 views! How can this difference be explained?
youtube.com/@IvanGeshev1/about
Now it’s getting fun. Article from 5. July 2023.
share-your-photo.com/acde747373
balkaninsight.com/2023/07/05/bulgarias-vengeful-ousted-chief-prosecutor-starts-own-party/
The Bulgarian judicial authorities would have a lot to do if they finally took action. Bulgarian National Radio published the following news on January 31, 2023:
share-your-photo.com/4decda8e6f
bnr.bg/de/post/101772402/bulgarien-hat-weiterhin-das-image-eines-korrupten-landes
Has Ivan Geshev been asleep for years as Prosecutor General? Will he now continue to sleep as a politician and do nothing against fraud and corruption in Bulgaria?
My opinion: Nothing will change, because guys like Ivan Geshev are only looking for their own advantage.
Assuming their votes count (???), at some point you do have to wonder just how gullible the average Bulgarian voter is.
That is of course if Geshev’s party gains any traction whenever the elections are.