The Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) is of the opinion that the titles of publications in some media based on information disseminated by the Commission for Anti-Corruption and Unlawfully Acquired Assets Forefeiture (CACIAF) are misleading and undermine the reputation of the Ministry and the Deputy Minister Toma Belev.

The decisions by CACIAF conclude that “a conflict of interest for Toma Belev has not been established by the initiation of proceedings – such conflict is alleged in the received signals, and its presence or absence is subject to determination as prescribed by law.”

The reason for initiating the proceedings by CACIAF was a signal, according to which Deputy Minister Belev continues to be Chairman of the Board of the “Association of Parks in Bulgaria”.

Deputy Minister Toma Belev clarified:

“Since its establishment in 2003, the Association of Parks in Bulgaria has not received any money from the budget of the MOEW or its structures, including the Operational Program  Environment,” so any suggestions of conflict of interest are inappropriate.

As for the incompatibility with my position, I must point out that I took office on 4.01.2022 and according to for Anti-Corruption and Unlawfully Acquired Assets Forfeiture Act and the Law on Administration I have one month to declare my circumstances and another month to remove any incompatibilities, this period expires on March 4, 2022. The Association of Parks in Bulgaria held a general meeting on January 16, 2022 and elected a new board, in which I do not participate. At the same time, although not required by law, I have also applied to leave the organization as a member, which took effect from the date of my application. I declared these circumstances to the body that appointed me as deputy minister - the Council of Ministers, on January 23, 2022.

Regarding the news that CACIAF initiates proceedings on conflict of interest on the basis of a signal, I must note that this will be the third proceeding against me in the last 12 years and I will fully cooperate with the Commission, in the hope that it will end in the same way as the previous two.”