Bulgaria’s former prime minister and leader of the center-right GERB (Citizens for Bulgaria’s European Development) party was arrested today in a police operation linked to an investigation by the EU Prosecutor’s Office, the Bulgarian Interior Ministry said.
Borisov served as Bulgaria’s prime minister for almost a decade, until last April when he lost the election amid popular anger over corruption at the highest levels of government in the European Union’s poorest member state.
A new governing coalition came to power in December, pledging zero tolerance for corruption.
Former Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov, former parliamentary budget committee chairwoman Menta Stoyanova, as well as an adviser to former Prime Minister Borisov, Sevdalina Arnaudova, were also arrested.
“A large-scale operation is under way, in relation to 120 cases being investigated by the EU Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bulgaria. Searches and seizures take place in many locations. “Boyko Borisov, Vladislav Goranov, Menta Stoyanova and Sevdalina Arnaudova are currently in custody,” the Bulgarian Interior Ministry said in a statement.
The Office of the EU Attorney General, led by Romania’s former Corruption Prosecutor Laura Covesi, is investigating serious fraud cases involving the misuse of EU funds.
Dozens of GERB officials and supporters gathered outside Borisov’s house on the outskirts of Sofia, demanding the resignation of the government and talking about political persecution.
“No charges have been filed against Borisov so far. Police searched his home. “He was taken to the General Police Directorate, where he will probably be detained for 24 hours,” former Prime Minister Menko Menkov’s lawyer told reporters earlier.
Laura Kovesi, concluding a two-day visit to Sofia yesterday, said the EU Attorney General’s Office had received a record number of complaints in Bulgaria and was conducting 120 investigations.
“No one is above the law,” Bulgarian Prime Minister Kirill Petkov commented via Facebook.
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