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Sat, May 26 2012
Fleeing mayor and football star to face pre-trial investigation
Regarded as a member of Bulgaria's golden football generation, Yordan Lechkov was an instrumental player in the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 1994 World Cup in the US. Here he is pictured while training with the team of Sliven.
Photo: Zhivko Angelov
A pre-trial investigation will be launched against Yordan Lechkov, Bulgarian football legend and current mayor of the town of Sliven, for obstructing police work, Bulgarian news agency BTA said on March 24 2010.
Lechkov was summoned to appear at Sofia's first police precinct at 10am on March 24 2010 after allegedly ignoring a Sofia police officer's signal to pull over for a speeding violation. He then sped off, allegedly making an obscene gesture to the policeman.
Lechkov had denied making offensive gestures towards police officers. He said that he was in a hurry, hence he had left his ID documents with the police unit so that they could write him a ticket.
Following the incident he was summoned to appear on March 24 2010 at a Sofia police station. This he failed to do. Lechkov explained his absence with his busy schedule, Evgeni Ignatov, head of the police, was quoted as saying by BTA.
On March 24 2010, Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov told Bulgarian National Television that he great respected Lechkov's footballing achievements and his work as mayor but that everyone should be equal under the law.
Lechkov was supported in his bid for re-election as Sliven mayor by Tsvetanov's party, GERB. "I know Lechkov as a friend and I know how many charity initiatives he has taken part in, but we must all have respect for the law."
A few weeks ago my wife was fined for running through a yellow light in Sofia but nobody heard anything about it. She committed an offence and was duly fined and she did not use the fact that she was a minister's wife," Tsvetanov said.
He also said that there were several witnesses to Lechkov's behavior and not just the police report.
"If we want to change our country, we must change our mindset," he said.
Lechkov was summoned to appear at Sofia's first police precinct at 10am on March 24 2010 after allegedly ignoring a Sofia police officer's signal to pull over for a speeding violation. He then sped off, allegedly making an obscene gesture to the policeman.
Lechkov had denied making offensive gestures towards police officers. He said that he was in a hurry, hence he had left his ID documents with the police unit so that they could write him a ticket.
Following the incident he was summoned to appear on March 24 2010 at a Sofia police station. This he failed to do. Lechkov explained his absence with his busy schedule, Evgeni Ignatov, head of the police, was quoted as saying by BTA.
On March 24 2010, Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov told Bulgarian National Television that he great respected Lechkov's footballing achievements and his work as mayor but that everyone should be equal under the law.
Lechkov was supported in his bid for re-election as Sliven mayor by Tsvetanov's party, GERB. "I know Lechkov as a friend and I know how many charity initiatives he has taken part in, but we must all have respect for the law."
A few weeks ago my wife was fined for running through a yellow light in Sofia but nobody heard anything about it. She committed an offence and was duly fined and she did not use the fact that she was a minister's wife," Tsvetanov said.
He also said that there were several witnesses to Lechkov's behavior and not just the police report.
"If we want to change our country, we must change our mindset," he said.
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Whilst he's swaning around in Sofia his town (Sliven) is going down the toilet. The roads are a disgrace & Sinite Kameni National Park is nothing more than a dumping ground.
To me it seems simply as total disrespect to authorities and the feeling of being above the law.
The moment the Police "compel" him to present himself to the Police Station, this is arrest. My point was not whether what he did was right but whether their follow actions were consistent with the traffic regs. and Police powers.
And as far as I know you cant compel or arrest someone over a minor traffic offence as speeding unless. In terms of leaving before the cop could issue him an official citation, again he is leaving the scene so to speak of a minor traffic offence. I doubt this is arrest able. In terms of [...]
Read the full comment giving the bird or finger when he left; insulting gestures towards a Police officer (if proven) then as I understand it, is an administrative offence or fine!
Hang on a minute...I didn't say what he did was right!
Sadly - he didn't disobey a stop. In fact he stopped, presented his documents and then left whilst apparently giving the finger at the cop.
To leave the "scene" as the cop didn't have time to write him a ticket....is this an arrest able offence or serious offence...??
Obscene gestures aside, disobeying a police pullover signal is a serious offense in most countries.
Writing ticket won't do it.
There are a lot (a lot) of things wrong with the Bulgarian Police, but that does not make this sort of action right.
@ raptor
ever heard the saying: where there is smoke there is fire.
"everyone should be equal under the law" thats a joke. Take away immunity from prosecution to everyone and ban those cars with the stupid arrogant flashing blue and red lights. If we want a change lets get away from thinking people with money are somehow more important. i'd like to see a list of the charities Lechkov has donated to!
Having respect for the law is one thing, but how it is applied is another.
Seriously starting a pre-trial investigation over such a minor thing!!??
Just write the guy a ticker and move on.