Bulgarian Roma Boss's Grandson Files Suit for Vandalized Property

One of the grandsons of Roma clan leader Kiril Rashkov, Angel Rashkov-Jr, and his aunt, Sabka, have filed a civil lawsuit against a citizen of the southern Bulgarian village of Katunitsa, accusing him of vandalizing property of the family.

Rashkov's relatives seek BGN 10 000 in compensation for damages inflicted on two cars owned by the family, private TV channel bTV reported on Thursday.

At this stage, Tsvetan Petkov, 53, is the only accused of seriously damaging the luxury limousines of the Rashkovi family.

If proven guilty, he faces a penalty of up to 6 years in prison.

Petkov, however, is positive that the sole purpose of the trial is to serve as a threat to the residents of Katunitsa.

"I do not feel guilty. I feel crushed by the system There is no justice," Petkov commented.

The trial is being heard at the Asenovgrad Regional Court and the next sitting has been scheduled for end-March.

Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, and his clan triggered massive tensions across Bulgaria in September after the murder of a teenager in Katunitsa.

On September 23, 2011, a van driven by alleged associates of Rashkov ran down and killed 19-year-old ethnic Bulgarian Angel Petrov.

On November 22, 2011, another representative of the notorious Roma clan, Kiril Rashkov-Jr, a grandson of Kiril Rashkov, was sentenced to 8 months of imprisonment for issuing a murder threat to Veselin Hristov.

On February 08, 2012, the Plovdiv District Court increased the penalty for Rashkov-Jr to 3 years of imprisonment.

On January 23, 2012, Kiril Rashkov was sentenced by the Asenovgrad Regional Court to 3.5 years in jail for issuing death threats against two locals, Veselin Hristov and Ivanka Petrova.

On February 06, 2012, the daughter of the Roma baron, Sabka, was given a two-year suspended sentence with four years of probation and a fine of BGN 10 000 for keeping unregistered antiques and art objects.