Bulgaria: €40,000 Seized in Vote-Buying Raid as Police Detain Suspect

A 53-year-old man with a criminal record has been detained in Bulgaria during a targeted police operation against vote buying, carried out in the village of Brestnitsa in the Lovech region. Authorities uncovered more than 40,000 euros in cash inside his home, according to Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior Georgi Kandev, who shared details of the case on Facebook.

The operation was launched swiftly after law enforcement received intelligence indicating preparations for organized vote buying ahead of the elections. “After receiving operational information, a specialized police operation was immediately organized,” Kandev said, outlining the rapid response by authorities.

Investigators believe the scheme involved multiple individuals. According to the Interior Ministry, three people had already been handed money with the intention of distributing it among residents in the municipality of Yablanitsa in exchange for support for a particular political party. “The funds were meant to influence voters in favor of a specific political force,” Kandev noted.

The detained man is described as “criminally active,” and the case remains under active investigation as authorities continue to trace the full scope of the alleged network and its financing.