The regional chairman of DPS in Burgas - Hristo Shirokov - was detained for the second time in a week
The regional chairman of DPS in Burgas - Hristo Shirokov - was detained for the second time in a week
Hristo Shirokov, the regional chairman of "DPS - New Beginning" in Burgas, was detained during a specialized operation of the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP), BTA reported. This happened on Wednesday in Pomorie. This is the second detention of Shirokov for this week.
In front of journalists, Shirokov commented that he does not know the exact reason for his arrest. "I cannot tell you why I am being detained, as you can see, I am being taken away at the moment," he said. According to information from SEGA, it is about the GDBOP operation for abuses in ViK-Burgas.
Shirokov confirmed that he was also detained on Tuesday to clarify details of an investigation being conducted in Kardzhali. According to bTV, the police are working on a report for assault and threats. The media reported that on Wednesday in this case the municipal councilor from Momchilgrad, Reyhan Mustafa Seydali, was also detained.
On Wednesday, Svobodna Tochka sent questions to the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior - Kardzhali, the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior - Burgas, the press center of the Ministry of Interior and the press center of DPS about what is the reason for Shirokov's detention on Tuesday and whether he has been charged. Until the publication of the material, we did not receive an answer.
Who is Hristo Shirokov
Hristo Shirokov, known by the nickname "Shirokata" (The Wide One), was elected as the regional coordinator of "DPS - New Beginning" in Burgas in December last year. In 2024, it was he who registered the party's list for the parliamentary elections in Burgas. He is a long-time municipal councilor from Pomorie.
Shirokov's name became known in the early 2000s as a bodyguard of Dimitar Zhelyazkov, convicted of drug trafficking, known as "Mityo Ochite" (Mityo the Eyes). In 2004, the two, together with bodyguard Gocho Karagochev, received suspended sentences for illegal possession of weapons.
In 2010, Shirokov was detained on suspicion of racketeering against carriage drivers in Sunny Beach, but was subsequently acquitted by the court after some of the victims said they did not remember anything. Over the years, his name has been mentioned in connection with other criminal cases as well, without them leading to convictions against him.
In 2015, Shirokov entered local politics as a municipal councilor from DPS in Pomorie, and four years later he was re-elected. After the split in DPS, he became the regional coordinator of "DPS - New Beginning" in Burgas.
In 2024, his name was included by the co-chairman of "Yes, Bulgaria" Ivaylo Mirchev in a publicly announced list of alleged organizers of vote-buying in favor of Delyan Peevski. The list was sent to the Ministry of Interior, but it is not publicly known that any action against Shirokov followed on these claims.