Cristoiu, in an interview with Radio Bucharest, said he was responding to pressure from the readership following his criticism of the new government. Taking office on 13 February, Stefan Sofiyanski went about introducing sweeping change immediately by firing the board of directors of the country's main oil refinery, Neftochim, Bulgarian media reported. He also appointed himself head of a special working council that will undertake to stabilize the country's downward-spiraling economy. Finally, the parliament dissolved itself on 13 February, after approving the new premier and caretaker cabinet. Reuters reported that Vlora has become an Eldorado for gangs, small-time criminals, and smugglers since police abandoned the city.
Police suspect a prostitution ring behind the kidnapping.
Meanwhile, the food-shortage is becoming critical in Vlora. CNN on 13 February broadcast footage of people plundering market stands. This material was reprinted with permission of the Open Media Research Institute, a nonprofit organization with research offices in Prague, Czech Republic. An HRI Project. All Rights Reserved.