Boris Velchev said there had been no prosecutor protection for Roma clan leader Kiril Rashkov, known locally as “Tsar Kiro,” who was targeted by protesters after a man he was linked to ran over and killed a 19-year-old.

More than 400 people have been arrested in the Balkan country’s worst unrest in 14 years, which spread to major cities from the southern Katunitsa village where Rashkov lives and left many Roma fearful of attack.

“This man (Rashkov) raises a lot of questions, but is not the only one. In many Bulgarian towns there are similar people, who are not of Roma origin and maintain high standards of living,” state news agency BTA quoted Velchev as saying.

He said prosecutors had been investigating about 20 people, including Rashkov, who live in mansions and drive expensive cars yet pay little or no tax, for more than a month.

Failure to sever links between high level officials and organized crime bosses has plagued Bulgaria since the end of communism in 1989 and is a key reason why EU countries barred it from joining passport-free Schengen zone earlier this month.

“In many Bulgarian towns there are local ‘feudal lords’, who attract attention with their suspicious contacts and high standard of living. They are brought together by the understanding they should not pay taxes,” Velchev said.

Hundreds of youths, frustrated by lack of jobs and gaping inequalities in a country struggling to recover from a deep recession and catch up with the rest of the EU, have taken to the streets since the weekend chanting anti-Roma slogans.

Ten people were arrested late on Wednesday in a third consecutive night of demonstrations although the gatherings were smaller than earlier ones and largely peaceful.

Many Roma, who make up about 5 percent of the Balkan country’s 7.4 million people, have kept their children from school for the past three days and some have stayed up all night guarding their houses.

More large demonstrations are planned for Saturday.

Some protesters have accused politicians, police and prosecutors of protecting suspected criminals like Rashkov and have demanded justice for the death of the teenager.

Bulgaria’s ombudsman said a legitimate protest against perceived impunity had subsequently taken on racist overtones.

The interior ministry said it was launching an investigation into the local police unit in Asenovgrad, near Katunitsa, to check whether complaints against Rashkov and his family had been intentionally ignored.

Rashkov was arrested on Wednesday and charged with making murder threats. Prosecutors are also investigating Rashkov for large-scale tax evasion, after tax authorities told them the 69-year Roma leader had not filed a tax declaration since 2004.