After receiving information from the State Agency for National Security, the Specialized Prosecutor's Office initiated pre-trial proceedings for a crime under Art. 105, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code - for the fact that, since 2016 a Bulgarian general from the reserve has worked for a foreign country in order to act as a spy, carrying out unregulated intelligence activities. He coordinated his actions with a Russian citizen, who was found to be a person with diplomatic immunity - an adviser in the political section at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sofia, whose actions violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and infringe the state sovereignty of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The evidence collected during the investigation indicates that the Bulgarian general from the reserve participated in a number of missions abroad, and held various positions in the Ministry of Defense. In connection with his official duties, he had access to classified information concerning NATO and the EU.
It was established that in the course of the investigation conducted by the Specialised Prosecutor's Office, the senior military officer from the reserve had collected classified information relating to internal political issues of the Republic of Bulgaria and passed it on to the official at the diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation in Sofia
To cover up their activities, the individuals held conspiratorial meetings, used portable flash drives and devices to encrypt information.
In the course of investigation, searches and seizures were carried out at 2 addresses and a car owned by the Bulgarian citizen. A large number of electronic data carriers, notebooks, laptops and paper carriers were found and seized in the residences. The appointment of a computer-technical expertise to verify the available information with a view to establishing its origin and classification in accordance with the Law on the Protection of Classified Information is pending.
The Specialised Prosecutor's Office has notified the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Bulgaria about the established circumstances related to the unregulated intelligence activity in the country by the employee at the embassy of the Russian Federation in Sofia, enjoying diplomatic immunity.
In accordance with the established order, Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev has notified the Minister of Foreign Affairs about the collected data on the unregulated intelligence activity carried out in the country with a view to taking appropriate actions according to competence.
After an analysis of the collected evidence, a decree was drawn up regarding the Bulgarian citizen to bring him accusation. A detention decree was issued for up to 72 hours.