Ex Bulgarian Deputy Minister Probed on Corruption Charges

Former Deputy Economy and Energy Minister, Nina Radeva, is investigated over allegations of political corruption. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency.

Bulgarian police and prosecutors are probing former Deputy Economy and Energy Minister, Nina Radeva on charges of trading in influence and political corruption.

The news was reported Friday by the private TV channel bTV, citing a report of the Parliamentary Anti-corruption Committee, which discovered evidence of a total 70 well-founded alerts about corruption and conflict of interests at the high levels of power.

Contrary to Radeva, who faces corruption charges, the institutions cannot touch former Customs Agency Director, Asen Asenov. After being released from his duties as Customs Head, Asenov established a private Customs consultancy business, attracting companies he used to control as clients. Asenov will not be sanctioned because current laws do not provide penalties for such actions.

Until now, probes have been launched against former Defense Minister, Nikolay Tsonev, former Labor and Social Policy Minister, Emiliya Maslarova, former Agriculture Minister, Valeri Tsvetanov, former Deputy Health Minister, Emil Raynov, former Deputy Regional Minister, Dimcho Mihalevski, all from the previous cabinet of the Three-Party Coalition.