Bulgarian Daily Peeks in Diplomats' Communist Files

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry (picture) has been shaken by a month-long scandal over revelations half of current Bulgarian Ambassadors had ties with the Communist Secret Services. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Current Bulgarian Ambassadors have received different incentives to spy on their staff at the time they were recruited as agents or collaborators of the former Communist State Security.

The information was published in the Bulgarian weekly "168 Chasa" (168 Hours).

The scandal flared in mid-December when the so-called Files Commission, a special panel investigating and examining the Communist era files, announced that nearly half of the current Bulgarian ambassadors had ties with the Communist secret services.

The authors of the article inform they were able to look inside the files and read some of the reports written by the agents-diplomats despite the fact most of these files have been meticulously cleaned by someone years ago.

The reports reveal that the "spies" received BGN 20, BGN 40, USD 100, job promotions, or even automobile spare parts in exchange of their information such as who were the people at the Embassy listening to "The Beatles," stealing alcohol, or plotting to seek asylum abroad.

The authors further say they were shocked to find out the envoys have all, without exception, agreed to write these reports for the State Security, and even demonstrated strong desire to do it.

The collaboration with the Communist services has been seen by these diplomats as a ticket for them and their families to live behind the "Iron Curtain."

The article points out that the content of the files rises serious doubts any of these people have been promoted for their professionalism and abilities.

Many began slandering friends and colleagues as early as their military service, starting from the bottom of the hierarchy and moving up step by step.

The files of the permanent agents of the State Security, who have been on its payroll, are throughly cleaned, the authors say.

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