Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 143912 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AORC AS AF AM AJ ASEC AU AMGT APER ACOA ASEAN AG AFFAIRS AR AFIN ABUD AO AEMR ADANA AMED AADP AINF ARF ADB ACS AE AID AL AC AGR ABLD AMCHAMS AECL AINT AND ASIG AUC APECO AFGHANISTAN AY ARABL ACAO ANET AFSN AZ AFLU ALOW ASSK AFSI ACABQ AMB APEC AIDS AA ATRN AMTC AVIATION AESC ASSEMBLY ADPM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AGOA ASUP AFPREL ARNOLD ADCO AN ACOTA AODE AROC AMCHAM AT ACKM ASCH AORCUNGA AVIANFLU AVIAN AIT ASECPHUM ATRA AGENDA AIN AFINM APCS AGENGA ABDALLAH ALOWAR AFL AMBASSADOR ARSO AGMT ASPA AOREC AGAO ARR AOMS ASC ALIREZA AORD AORG ASECVE ABER ARABBL ADM AMER ALVAREZ AORCO ARM APERTH AINR AGRI ALZUGUREN ANGEL ACDA AEMED ARC AMGMT AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU ABMC AIAG ALJAZEERA ASR ASECARP ALAMI APRM ASECM AMPR AEGR AUSTRALIAGROUP ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AIDAC AOPC ANTITERRORISM ASEG AMIA ASEX AEMRBC AFOR ABT AMERICA AGENCIES AGS ADRC ASJA AEAID ANARCHISTS AME AEC ALNEA AMGE AMEDCASCKFLO AK ANTONIO ASO AFINIZ ASEDC AOWC ACCOUNT ACTION AMG AFPK AOCR AMEDI AGIT ASOC ACOAAMGT AMLB AZE AORCYM AORL AGRICULTURE ACEC AGUILAR ASCC AFSA ASES ADIP ASED ASCE ASFC ASECTH AFGHAN ANTXON APRC AFAF AFARI ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AX ALAB ASECAF ASA ASECAFIN ASIC AFZAL AMGTATK ALBE AMT AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN AGUIRRE AAA ABLG ARCH AGRIC AIHRC ADEL AMEX ALI AQ ATFN AORCD ARAS AINFCY AFDB ACBAQ AFDIN AOPR AREP ALEXANDER ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI ATRD AEIR AOIC ABLDG AFR ASEK AER ALOUNI AMCT AVERY ASECCASC ARG APR AMAT AEMRS AFU ATPDEA ALL ASECE ANDREW
EAIR ECON ETRD EAGR EAID EFIN ETTC ENRG EMIN ECPS EG EPET EINV ELAB EU ECONOMICS EC EZ EUN EN ECIN EWWT EXTERNAL ENIV ES ESA ELN EFIS EIND EPA ELTN EXIM ET EINT EI ER EAIDAF ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECTRD EUR ECOWAS ECUN EBRD ECONOMIC ENGR ECONOMY EFND ELECTIONS EPECO EUMEM ETMIN EXBS EAIRECONRP ERTD EAP ERGR EUREM EFI EIB ENGY ELNTECON EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ECOSOC EEB EINF ETRN ENGRD ESTH ENRC EXPORT EK ENRGMO ECO EGAD EXIMOPIC ETRDPGOV EURM ETRA ENERG ECLAC EINO ENVIRONMENT EFIC ECIP ETRDAORC ENRD EMED EIAR ECPN ELAP ETCC EAC ENEG ESCAP EWWC ELTD ELA EIVN ELF ETR EFTA EMAIL EL EMS EID ELNT ECPSN ERIN ETT EETC ELAN ECHEVARRIA EPWR EVIN ENVR ENRGJM ELBR EUC EARG EAPC EICN EEC EREL EAIS ELBA EPETUN EWWY ETRDGK EV EDU EFN EVN EAIDETRD ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ ETEX ESCI EAIDHO EENV ETRC ESOC EINDQTRD EINVA EFLU EGEN ECE EAGRBN EON EFINECONCS EIAD ECPC ENV ETDR EAGER ETRDKIPR EWT EDEV ECCP ECCT EARI EINVECON ED ETRDEC EMINETRD EADM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ETAD ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS ESSO ETRG ELAM ECA EENG EITC ENG ERA EPSC ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EIPR ELABPGOVBN EURFOR ETRAD EUE EISNLN ECONETRDBESPAR ELAINE EGOVSY EAUD EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EINVETRD EPIN ECONENRG EDRC ESENV EB ENER ELTNSNAR EURN ECONPGOVBN ETTF ENVT EPIT ESOCI EFINOECD ERD EDUC EUM ETEL EUEAID ENRGY ETD EAGRE EAR EAIDMG EE EET ETER ERICKSON EIAID EX EAG EBEXP ESTN EAIDAORC EING EGOV EEOC EAGRRP EVENTS ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ETRDEMIN EPETEIND EAIDRW ENVI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC EDUARDO EGAR EPCS EPRT EAIDPHUMPRELUG EPTED ETRB EPETPGOV ECONQH EAIDS EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN ESF EINR ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN EIDN ETRK ESTRADA EXEC EAIO EGHG ECN EDA ECOS EPREL EINVKSCA ENNP ELABV ETA EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EUCOM EAIDASEC ENR END EP ERNG ESPS EITI EINTECPS EAVI ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EADI ELDIN ELND ECRM EINVEFIN EAOD EFINTS EINDIR ENRGKNNP ETRDEIQ ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD EAIT ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ EWWI ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EHUM EFNI EOXC EISNAR ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM EMW ETIO ETRDGR EMN EXO EATO EWTR ELIN EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EINVETC ETTD EIQ ECONCS EPPD ESS EUEAGR ENRGIZ EISL EUNJ EIDE ENRGSD ELAD ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO ENTG ETRDECD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS
KPKO KIPR KWBG KPAL KDEM KTFN KNNP KGIC KTIA KCRM KDRG KWMN KJUS KIDE KSUM KTIP KFRD KMCA KMDR KCIP KTDB KPAO KPWR KOMC KU KIRF KCOR KHLS KISL KSCA KGHG KS KSTH KSEP KE KPAI KWAC KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPRP KVPR KAWC KUNR KZ KPLS KN KSTC KMFO KID KNAR KCFE KRIM KFLO KCSA KG KFSC KSCI KFLU KMIG KRVC KV KVRP KMPI KNEI KAPO KOLY KGIT KSAF KIRC KNSD KBIO KHIV KHDP KBTR KHUM KSAC KACT KRAD KPRV KTEX KPIR KDMR KMPF KPFO KICA KWMM KICC KR KCOM KAID KINR KBCT KOCI KCRS KTER KSPR KDP KFIN KCMR KMOC KUWAIT KIPRZ KSEO KLIG KWIR KISM KLEG KTBD KCUM KMSG KMWN KREL KPREL KAWK KIMT KCSY KESS KWPA KNPT KTBT KCROM KPOW KFTN KPKP KICR KGHA KOMS KJUST KREC KOC KFPC KGLB KMRS KTFIN KCRCM KWNM KHGH KRFD KY KGCC KFEM KVIR KRCM KEMR KIIP KPOA KREF KJRE KRKO KOGL KSCS KGOV KCRIM KEM KCUL KRIF KCEM KITA KCRN KCIS KSEAO KWMEN KEANE KNNC KNAP KEDEM KNEP KHPD KPSC KIRP KUNC KALM KCCP KDEN KSEC KAYLA KIMMITT KO KNUC KSIA KLFU KLAB KTDD KIRCOEXC KECF KIPRETRDKCRM KNDP KIRCHOFF KJAN KFRDSOCIRO KWMNSMIG KEAI KKPO KPOL KRD KWMNPREL KATRINA KBWG KW KPPD KTIAEUN KDHS KRV KBTS KWCI KICT KPALAOIS KPMI KWN KTDM KWM KLHS KLBO KDEMK KT KIDS KWWW KLIP KPRM KSKN KTTB KTRD KNPP KOR KGKG KNN KTIAIC KSRE KDRL KVCORR KDEMGT KOMO KSTCC KMAC KSOC KMCC KCHG KSEPCVIS KGIV KPO KSEI KSTCPL KSI KRMS KFLOA KIND KPPAO KCM KRFR KICCPUR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KFAM KWWMN KENV KGH KPOP KFCE KNAO KTIAPARM KWMNKDEM KDRM KNNNP KEVIN KEMPI KWIM KGCN KUM KMGT KKOR KSMT KISLSCUL KNRV KPRO KOMCSG KLPM KDTB KFGM KCRP KAUST KNNPPARM KUNH KWAWC KSPA KTSC KUS KSOCI KCMA KTFR KPAOPREL KNNPCH KWGB KSTT KNUP KPGOV KUK KMNP KPAS KHMN KPAD KSTS KCORR KI KLSO KWNN KNP KPTD KESO KMPP KEMS KPAONZ KPOV KTLA KPAOKMDRKE KNMP KWMNCI KWUN KRDP KWKN KPAOY KEIM KGICKS KIPT KREISLER KTAO KJU KLTN KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KQ KWPR KSCT KGHGHIV KEDU KRCIM KFIU KWIC KNNO KILS KTIALG KNNA KMCAJO KINP KRM KLFLO KPA KOMCCO KKIV KHSA KDM KRCS KWBGSY KISLAO KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KCRI KX KWWT KPAM KVRC KERG KK KSUMPHUM KACP KSLG KIF KIVP KHOURY KNPR KUNRAORC KCOG KCFC KWMJN KFTFN KTFM KPDD KMPIO KCERS KDUM KDEMAF KMEPI KHSL KEPREL KAWX KIRL KNNR KOMH KMPT KISLPINR KADM KPER KTPN KSCAECON KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KCSI KNRG KAKA KFRP KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KQM KQRDQ KWBC KMRD KVBL KOM KMPL KEDM KFLD KPRD KRGY KNNF KPROG KIFR KPOKO KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KHIB KOEM KDDG KCGC
PGOV PREL PK PTER PINR PO PHUM PARM PREF PINF PRL PM PINS PROP PALESTINIAN PE PBTS PNAT PHSA PL PA PSEPC POSTS POLITICS POLICY POL PU PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOG PARALYMPIC PGOC PNR PREFA PMIL POLITICAL PROV PRUM PBIO PAK POV POLG PAR POLM PHUMPREL PKO PUNE PROG PEL PROPERTY PKAO PRE PSOE PHAS PNUM PGOVE PY PIRF PRES POWELL PP PREM PCON PGOVPTER PGOVPREL PODC PTBS PTEL PGOVTI PHSAPREL PD PG PRC PVOV PLO PRELL PEPFAR PREK PEREZ PINT POLI PPOL PARTIES PT PRELUN PH PENA PIN PGPV PKST PROTESTS PHSAK PRM PROLIFERATION PGOVBL PAS PUM PMIG PGIC PTERPGOV PSHA PHM PHARM PRELHA PELOSI PGOVKCMABN PQM PETER PJUS PKK POUS PTE PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PERM PRELGOV PAO PNIR PARMP PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PHYTRP PHUML PFOV PDEM PUOS PN PRESIDENT PERURENA PRIVATIZATION PHUH PIF POG PERL PKPA PREI PTERKU PSEC PRELKSUMXABN PETROL PRIL POLUN PPD PRELUNSC PREZ PCUL PREO PGOVZI POLMIL PERSONS PREFL PASS PV PETERS PING PQL PETR PARMS PNUC PS PARLIAMENT PINSCE PROTECTION PLAB PGV PBS PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PKNP PSOCI PSI PTERM PLUM PF PVIP PARP PHUMQHA PRELNP PHIM PRELBR PUBLIC PHUMKPAL PHAM PUAS PBOV PRELTBIOBA PGOVU PHUMPINS PICES PGOVENRG PRELKPKO PHU PHUMKCRS POGV PATTY PSOC PRELSP PREC PSO PAIGH PKPO PARK PRELPLS PRELPK PHUS PPREL PTERPREL PROL PDA PRELPGOV PRELAF PAGE PGOVGM PGOVECON PHUMIZNL PMAR PGOVAF PMDL PKBL PARN PARMIR PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PDD PRELKPAO PKMN PRELEZ PHUMPRELPGOV PARTM PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPEL PGOVPRELPINRBN PGOVSOCI PWBG PGOVEAID PGOVPM PBST PKEAID PRAM PRELEVU PHUMA PGOR PPA PINSO PROVE PRELKPAOIZ PPAO PHUMPRELBN PGVO PHUMPTER PAGR PMIN PBTSEWWT PHUMR PDOV PINO PARAGRAPH PACE PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOVAU PGOF PBTSRU PRGOV PRHUM PCI PGO PRELEUN PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PMR PRTER PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PRELNL PINOCHET PAARM PKPAO PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA POPDC PRELC PHUME PER PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PAUL PHALANAGE PARTY PPEF PECON PEACE PROCESS PPGOV PLN PRELSW PHUMS PRF PEDRO PHUMKDEM PUNR PVPR PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PBT PAMQ

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09SOFIA154, SOFIA'S MEAN STREETS

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09SOFIA154.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09SOFIA154 2009-04-02 14:03 2011-06-10 20:00 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Sofia
Appears in these articles:
http://www.bivol.bg
R 021403Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5890
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000154 
 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/CE - TOM YEAGER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PREL BU
SUBJECT: SOFIA'S MEAN STREETS 
 
Classified By: Charge Alex Karagiannis for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  Sofia's streets are a showcase for 
potholes and uncollected garbage.  Lined by decaying soviet 
style blocks and uncompleted new construction (mixed with 
some glitzy modern buildings), they are ugly.  While the 
ordinary crime rate is low, organized crime violence is a 
recurrent feature as rivals compete for turf and engage in 
contract killings.  This landscape is the visible result of 
years of pervasive political corruption and the persistent 
failure in Bulgaria,s law enforcement and public 
administration systems.  While the Socialist(BSP) led 
government tries to convince the public and the EU that it is 
seriously fighting crime and corruption, every day the 
average person sees massive flouting of the law.  Gangsters, 
thugs, and mutri (shady businessmen) in expensive cars show 
off their ill-gotten wealth.  They easily slip through the 
cumbersome and corrupt justice system (no major OC figure has 
ever spent significant time in jail).  Some young people see 
mutri as role models: cool, feared, and above the law.  A 
coarsening of society is taking place.  Tired and cynical 
about government institutions and politicians, Bulgarians 
have come to accept corruption as part of the normal 
landscape and find it easier to cope with it rather than to 
change it.  This mood will likely dominate as Bulgarians go 
to the polls this summer.  End Summary. 
 
---------------- 
UGLY AND BOORISH 
---------------- 
 
2.  (SBU)  Arriving in Sofia by air, a traveler is unsure if 
Bulgaria is yet a modern EU country.  Airport Terminal 2 is 
clean, modern, and efficient; Terminal 1 is old, dingy, and 
cigarette-smoke infused.  Once a traveler hits the airport 
access road and the main thoroughfares, the picture gets 
starker.  Drab, decrepit soviet style blocks rise up, in 
stark juxtaposition to the Porsche dealership.  Crumbling 
streets with unevenly patched pavement, potholes that can 
pass for tank traps, and sidewalks crammed with parked cars 
are routine.  Basic infrastructure is mediocre to poor.  A 
years-long garbage mess (no room in landfills) has gotten 
worse over a contract dispute with the collection companies; 
refuse is both scattered and piled high.  Packs of wild dogs 
roam widely, even in central residential areas and what 
passes as the leafy, upscale suburban neighborhoods.  What 
had been a rather green, complacent, modestly architecturally 
interesting city with a pleasant historic center has become a 
car-choked, trashy mess. 
 
3.  (C)  Bad as that is, the organized crime situation is 
ugly as well.  Ordinary crime is pretty low, and most 
citizens feel safe.  But crimes directed at and by the bling, 
shady nouveau riche -- intimidation, extortion, kidnappings 
-- have become more visible, and those criminals are more 
arrogant.  The raw statistics indicate failure or 
unwillingness to deal with serious crimes:  since 1997, there 
have been over 130 contract murders, with only a handful of 
arrests and just five convictions.  What previously had been 
professional killings (both shootings and bombings) with no 
collateral damage, have now gotten sloppier; in one instance 
a drive-by machine gun spray failed to do the job outside a 
popular restaurant, but did terrorize other patrons.  One 
prominent, perhaps shady, lawyer was gunned down just days 
ago in a provincial capital. 
 
4.  (SBU) Over the past six months, there have been bombings 
at so-called gentlemen,s clubs -- as organized crime 
families play out their turf wars.  The number of kidnappings 
of wealthy (and perhaps sleazy) businessmen has gone up; 
it,s a lucrative new racket.  Recently, in one very crude, 
but effective extortion case, one hotel owner received a 
hand-grenade with the pin removed.  Organized criminals and 
their no-neck, black-leather-clad body guards flaunt and 
disobey the law; big, black SUVs are the rage, barreling down 
streets, ignoring traffic and parking regulations.  Seeing no 
force to control them, many ordinary Bulgarians have followed 
suit, running lights, passing against oncoming city traffic, 
and the like.  Young people find mutri -- cool guys above the 
law with money and status -- an attractive role model.  In a 
hilarious interview that unwittingly confirms the view that 
muscle and money are what matter, the new "Miss Bulgaria" 
spoke openly that she is not some "cheap prostitute" and how 
her Russian "businessman" boyfriend helps get nice things -- 
in what is widely considered to have been a rigged selection. 
 The overall attitude amounts to private gain and social 
indifference. 
 
----------------------------------- 
PUBLIC SERVICES -- CRIMINAL NEGLECT 
----------------------------------- 
 
5.  (C)  Sofia's dilapidated condition does not come from a 
poor economy.  National growth has averaged about seven 
percent for five years.  The central government has 
maintained large fiscal reserves and not spent wisely on 
basic infrastructure.  Meanwhile, corruption siphoned off the 
nation's wealth to shady businesses, government officials and 
political parties, imposing a heavy toll on public services. 
Potholed and poorly lit roads are the norm.  Sofia's garbage 
collection crisis, recalling scenes of Naples, now in its 
sixth week, is symbolic of an indifferent, sometimes testy 
relationship between the municipal and central governments as 
they play a blame game in advance of summer elections.  The 
most vital public services, law and order forces, have gone 
from bad to worse.  Almost a year after the forced 
resignation of disgraced Interior Minister Petkov, there are 
few tangible changes at that sprawling, dysfunctional agency. 
  Things are little better at the newly created State Agency 
for National Security (DANS).  Intended to target high level 
organized crime and corruption, DANS is instead politicized; 
some officials have links to criminals and shady businesses. 
 
6.  (C)  Meanwhile, old scandals fester and new ones emerge. 
The line-up is extensive; a short list of the most prominent 
case includes Sofia,s heating utility; Sofia,s garbage 
service; the state Road Infrastructure Fund; misuse of 
multiple EU SAPARD and PHARE funds; multiple agricultural and 
environmental programs; numerous dubious land swaps; the 
National Revenue Agency; and the Customs Agency, notorious 
for its many senior officials known by their criminal 
nicknames such as "The Penguin" and "Silicon Girl."  Looking 
at summer parliamentary elections, Bulgarians understand that 
mainline parties profit from corruption and have no real 
interest in reform.  A new party, Leader, the personal 
project of a shady businessman (unknown five years ago and 
today the second wealthiest Bulgarian), has a genuine chance 
to enter parliament.  Though formed on the premise that it is 
more cost effective to own your own party than to pay off 
other politicians, Leader,s clever slogans of protest, 
populism and nationalism appeal to alienated voters. 
 
7.  (C)  COMMENT:  Sofia is not Bulgaria, so the picture here 
may be more intense than elsewhere.  Nor is cynicism about 
politicians and government anything new.  Bulgarians tend to 
look outside themselves for hope; many value the abstraction 
of the EU far above any of their own politicians or 
institutions.  Neither Sofia,s streets nor the mutri culture 
will likely be cleaned up quickly under such conditions. 
But, high frustration and resignation levels are now mixed 
with some real anger.  If a new government makes a clean-up a 
priority, it could tap into and motivate citizen support. 
END COMMENT. 
 
 
Karagiannis