Bulgaria Police Brings in Former Health Minister for Questioning

Bulgaria's former Health Minister, Evgeni Zhelev, could be facing legal charges over violations at Sofia's oncology hospital. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's former Health Minister, Evgeni Zhelev, is been interrogated by the police Wednesday over violations at the Sofia specialized oncology hospital.

The hospital was raided by the authorities in April after numerous signals from patients and oncology patients rights' protection organizations. The hospital Director, Petranka Troyanova, was fired and charged with misconduct in office.

The Prosecution is currently investigating both Health Ministry's employees and the hospital staff. Zhelev is being interrogated as a witness, but legal charges are not out of the question because he was the authority controlling the hospital.

While holding the ministerial post, Zhelev ordered several checkups of the hospital and they all revealed the staff there was acting according to the rules and the law.