Anticorruption commission launched investigations in six senior public officials

Bulgaria’s Anticorruption Commision launched an investigation into six senior public officials for conflicts of interest. These are the head of the National Service for Protection (NSP), the former director of the Bulgarian National Radio, the rector of the University of Economics in Varna, the deputy mayor of Sliven municipality and two municipal councilors from Pazardzhik.

The two municipal councilors from Pazardzhik City Councilare are investigated following an alert that they are members of the governing bodies and representing associations (sports clubs), which receive direct funding from the budget of the Municipality of Pazardzhik, and the two, as municipal councilors, participated in a meeting of the Municipal Council, which adopted decisions on updating the budget and approving payments (subsidies) for these sports clubs by voting in favour of these decisions.

The rector of the University of Economics in Varna is invstigated based on a signal that he is an employer of his wife, that they are both members of the Academic Council and as heads of scientific units and spouses receive considerable monthly income - remuneration for the positions (heads of departments and scientific University units).

The probe into the Deputy Mayor of Sliven Municipality is on a signal that he is the founder and chairman of a foundation that is a partner of the municipality in many of the implemented projects in the region.

The former Director General of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) is investigated on a signal that in his capacity as head of the broadcaster, he gave the Council of Electronic Media (CEM) to use a car, which was maintained by the budget of the national radio and thus secured support from the members of CEM.

The Head of the National Service for Protection is investigated on a signal for re-appointment of a person to the post of Head of Sector, without competition and that he has a close relationship with this person, as well as for other such appointments to higher posts in the service.

By a decision of January 22, the anticorruption commission identified a conflict of interest in relation to the Chief Architect of Blagoevgrad Municipality, due to issuing of building permits to the benefit of his own and private interest (to related persons). Moreover, following a decision of the chief architect, two fines of BGN 5,000 each were imposed.