Bulgaria to Press Charges against Energy Watchdog Ex Head

Sofia Prosecution has been investigating suspicions that the former head of the energy agency (DKEVR) Angel Semerdzhiev had abused his powers to benefit a private company. Photo by BGNES

The prosecution in Bulgarian capital Sofia is expected to raise charges against the recently fired head of the national energy regulator Angel Semerdzhiev within ten days, according to media reports.

The resignation came in the wake of unprecedented protests,  which saw tens of thousands of Bulgarians taking to the streets in protest against high electricity bills.

Bulgaria's National Revenue Agency had already announced it had launched an investigation against Semerdzhiev.

The Sofia Prosecution has been investigating suspicions that the former head of the energy agency (DKEVR) had abused his powers to benefit a private company.

Semerdzhiev resigned amidst an electricity pricing scandal triggered by reports that EC is referring Bulgaria, Estonia and the United Kingdom to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to fully apply the EU internal energy market rules.

According to the EC's press office, to date Bulgaria, Estonia and the UK have only partially transposed the Electricity and Gas Directives. The Directives had to be transposed by the Member States by 3 March 2011.

Economy and Energy Minister, Delyan Dobrev, blamed DKEVR for the EC case against Bulgaria.

At first, Semerdzhiev stated that DKEVR has already adopted one of the said Directives.

He explained the remaining 3 directives will be prepared by DKEVR in just days, and stated the deadline for the latter was mid-July and obviously no one had told Dobrev that a one year delay of all directives was included in the law.

However, on January 28th, he logged the request to be released before the end of his term in office as a Chair and member of the watchdog.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!