With regard to an overriding public interest and maximum transparency, the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Bulgaria informs about the actions taken in accordance with its powers in connection with the official announcement concerning sanctions imposed on Bulgarian citizens and related to them companies by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of State.
Six case files have been initiated by the Supreme Cassation Prosecutor's Office under Art. 145, paragraph 1, item 2 of the Judicial System Act, inspections have been initiated by prosecutors from 01 Specialized Department at the Supreme Cassation Prosecutor’s Office, with a view to collecting data on possible crimes committed under Chapter eight, Section four of the special part of the Penal Code. In this regard, a request was sent through the Ministry of Justice to the US Department of Justice to provide information on which the findings of the competent US authorities regarding the sanctioned persons are based.
All available information from the General Directorate Combating Organised Crime, General Directorate National Police, State Agency for National Security, Commission for Combating Corruption and Confiscation of Illegally Acquired Property, National Revenue Agency, Registry Agency and other state bodies, including the National Assembly, the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Economy, the State Fund Agriculture has been requested. The Prosecutor General of the Republic of Bulgaria has requested from the bodies of the National Revenue Agency disclosure of tax and social security information regarding the persons.
From Al. Manolev, P. Haralampiev, Kr. Tomov, D. Peevski and I. Zhelyazkov and other persons were given explanations. So far, no explanations have been taken from V. Bozhkov, as he is hiding in a country outside the EU.
The materials from the inspections carried out in the Supreme Cassation Prosecution Court in respect of P. Haralampiev and Kr. Tomov were sent within the competence of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office with a view to assessing their joining to the pre-trial proceedings conducted there.
By a decree of a prosecutor, they have already been merged and are part of the body of evidence in the case.
Following an analysis of the newly received materials, the Specialized Prosecutor's Office brought to justice Haralampiev and Tomov for criminal breach of trust by them in their capacity as officials holding a responsible government position in the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad.
It has been established that data from the subject of the inspection in the Supreme Cassation Prosecutor’s Office coincide with the available data on the case of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office, on which in September 2020 an indictment was submitted against Haralampiev and Tomov and two other persons.
With regard to V. Bozhkov, it has been established that the Specialized Prosecutor's Office is conducting several investigations, which subject coincides with the inspection initiated in the Supreme Prosecution Office.
With regard to Al. Manolev the materials from the inspection were sent to the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office
With regard to the other two persons - Peevski and Zhelyazkov, the inspections in the Supreme Cassation Prosecutor’s Office continue, as only part of the requested information has been received.
After the completion of all inspections, the collected materials will be sent to the competent prosecutor's offices for assessment of the availability of sufficient data on committed crimes of a general nature, of which Bulgarian citizens will be informed.