Former Head of Bulgaria Agriculture Fund Imposed BGN 3,000 Bail

20 November 2008
The Sofia Appellate Court imposed Thursday a BGN 3,000 bail on the former director of the Bulgarian State Agriculture Fund and the SAPARD Agency Assen Drumev. Drumev was detained on November 10 over accusations for mismanaging the European SAPARD funds and causing damages of BGN 618,000 to the SAPARD program. The judges claimed there was no clear evidence proving the guilt of the defendant. ... more

Bulgaria's Former Interior Minister Acquitted of Revealing Undercover Agent

20 November 2008
Bulgaria's former Interior Minister Rumen Petkov was acquitted Thursday of charges of revealing to the public the identity of the undercover agent Aleksei Petrov. The prosecution demanded that Petkov be sentenced to a fine of BGN 2750 but the Sofia City Court ruled in favor of the former Minister. The hearing of the trial was not open to the public because of the classified information inclu ... more

Bulgarian Retirees Demand Higher Pensions

20 November 2008
Several dozens of retired Bulgarians protested Thursday before the buildings of the Presidency and the Council of Ministers. With flags and slogans demanding social justice, the protesters' rally demonstrated before the state institutions asking for a substantial increase of their pensions in 2009 with respect to the feared effects of the global financial crisis. Bulgaria's Parliament is goi ... more

Bulgaria Cabinet to Request Smoking Ban in Public Spaces

20 November 2008
A smoking ban in outdoor and indoor public spaces, effective June 1, 2010 is included in the changes of the Health Law to be proposed to the Bulgarian Parliament by the Cabinet, discussed during the regular Ministries Council meeting on Thursday. Other changes in the Law include lowering the age allowing a person to agree to undergo certain medical exams from 18 to 16 years. The change would gi ... more

Young Jewish-Bulgarians Offer Flowers to Cabinet as Sign of Gratitude

20 November 2008
On Thursday young Bulgarians with Jewish background met with flowers the members of the Bulgarian Cabinet as they were gathering for their regular Ministries Council meeting. The initiative is part of the agenda of the international "Songs about Life" festival, commemorating the 65th anniversary of the saving of Bulgarian Jews from Nazi concentration camp.. ... more

OLAF Director Pays Visit to Bulgaria

20 November 2008
The Director of the European Anti-Fraud Office Franz-Hermann Bruner arrives Thursday in Bulgaria at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister responsible for the management of the EU funds, Meglena Plugchieva. Mr Bruner is to discuss with PM Sergey Stanishev the measures the government is to take in order to tackle embezzlement of EU money. The OLAF director is also to meet Bulgaria's Chief Pr ... more

Bulgaria Political Parties Have Returned Illegal Donations

19 November 2008
The most often occurring violation when donations to political parties in Bulgaria are concerned is receiving funds from public procurement contractors, the Director of the National Audit Office, Professor Valery Dimitrov announced on Wednesday. The Director said that there were nine parties, who have committed violations, among them the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the Citizens for Europea ... more

Finance Minister: 2009 Budget Can't Fend off All Financial Crisis Effects

19 November 2008
Bulgaria's Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski stated Wednesday the measures in the 2009 Draft Budget would not be able to neutralize all of the negative effects of the global financial crisis. ... more

Sofia Heating Utility Ex-head Violated Public Procurements Law to Drain Money

19 November 2008
Sofia City Court held Wednesday yet another hearing on the case against notorious ex-head of Sofia's Toplofikatsia heating utility, Valentin Dimitrov, who along with five other managers of the company are accused of embezzlement and causing losses to the company. ... more

Trial against Bulgarian Former Bully Mayor Drags on

18 November 2008
Sofia City Court postponed Tuesday the case against Fidel Beev, ex-mayor of the town of Velingrad, accused of tax evasion. The court decided to put off the trial, as one of the witnesses failed to appear in the courtroom. According to prosecution, the defender failed to declare income of BGN 43,000 and tax debts amounting to BGN 27,000. ... more