Bulgaria's National Security Agency Probes Ruse Mayor over Public Procurement

Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security, DANS, has launched a probe of Plamen Stoilov, Mayor of the Danube city of Ruse, in connection with procurement deals signed by the municipal administration.

The inspection was launched on a number of tip-offs that public procurement contracts were mostly won by companies close to former-ruling center-right party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB.

Stoilov confirmed at a press conference that the Specialized Administrative Directorate Financial Intelligence of DANS had conducted a probe.

The Mayor of Ruse refused to disclose details, adding that it was a job of the inspecting authorities.

Stoilov adamantly rejected claims that a number of companies were enjoying preferential treatment.

He explained that the Ruse Municipality had signed a total of 48 public procurement deals worth BGN 152 M with different companies, adding that there were three points of control, the Public Procurement Agency, the Commission for Protection of Competition (KZK), and the Supreme Administrative Court (VAS), which guaranteed that the contract had been signed with the right company.

"If there is something wrong, the matter is referred to the competent bodies, which launch an inspection. I will not act as a lawyer of any company. A total of 5 to 7 people place their signatures on each document before my turn comes, including the contractor, the head of the Public Procurement department, director, legal expert, Deputy Mayor, each of whom can be held to account for their activities," Stoilov stated.

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