Bulgaria Ex-Energy Min 'Demoted' in Parliament over Pending Allegations

Delyan Dobrev, a former Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister. File photo, BGNES

Lawmakers on Thursday voted to free Delyan Dobrev, a former economy and energy minister, from the Energy Committee with Parliament.

Dobrev, who served as a minister in 2012-2013 (until Boyko Borisov's first government stepped down), currently chairs the committee.

He is being targeted by the prosecuting authority of Bulgaria over transactions made under the Belene nuclear power plant (NPP) project during his ministerial tenure, even though the project was already cancelled at the time.

The Energy Ministry disputes this, citing data from documents that indicates the money transfers to a Warley Parsons subsidiary that worked on the design and construction of the plant were actually made after Dobrev's term, under the next socialist-led government.

But Dobrev, who agreed to have his immunity from criminal prosecution (enjoyed by all acting MPs) revoked earlier this week, was also stripped of his chairmanship of a newly set up committee investigating the circumstances around the Belene NPP project.

He denies any wrongdoing, maintaining every allegation against him will be disproved.

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