After the meeting of I.F. chief prosecutor Borislav Sarafov and the US ambassador H.E. Kenneth Merten of the Prosecutor's Office press office released an official joint statement. We publish the full text of the document:
Today, June 26, 2024, in the Courthouse in the city of Sofia, i.f. Chief Prosecutor of the Republic of Bulgaria Borislav Sarafov and the Ambassador of the United States of America to Bulgaria H.E. Kenneth Merten made a statement
in connection with the conduct of a joint investigation against the criminal activity of the German citizen of Bulgarian origin Ruzha Ignatova and the financial pyramid led by her “OneCoin”.
I.f. chief prosecutor Borislav Sarafov emphasized the need for cooperation of the law enforcement authorities of individual countries in countering crimes that “accumulate significant financial and material assets acquired in a criminal manner”.
Sarafov emphasized that it is a privilege and a huge responsibility as the head of the Bulgarian Prosecutor's Office to be a worthy partner of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – “undoubtedly, the best and most powerful investigative service in the world“.
„We are partners in the common fight against crime and lawlessness. This battle is tough and requires continuous joint efforts and dedication to meet society's expectations for justice,” said Borislav Sarafov.
He announced that along with the case being conducted in the USA against Ruzha Ignatova, she will also be charged in absentia in our country, which will allow the start of a procedure for the confiscation of her illegally acquired property.
Borislav Sarafov pointed out that during his visit a month ago to the FBI headquarters in Washington, the joint investigation of the American and Bulgarian authorities against Ignatova was only one of the discussed criminal investigations involving Bulgarian citizens, on which the prosecutor's office works mutually with the FBI partners.
In his statement, i.f. the chief prosecutor expressed his gratitude to the US Embassy in Bulgaria and the FBI, which support our country in reforming, training and upgrading the professional capacity of investigative services in our country.
Borislav Sarafov expressed expectations, also shared during his visit to the USA, that in a short period of time Bulgaria will receive additional support in investigations against cybercrimes, expressed in an increase of the US mission in our country with a federal agent, with whom the Bulgarian institutions will work jointly in the field of cybercrimes and the collection of electronic evidence.
For his part, the US ambassador to Bulgaria H.E. Kenneth Merten announced that the US government is today announcing a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Ruzha Ignatova, who is being investigated for one of the largest fraud schemes in history for over 4 billion US dollars.
„The United States highly values our partnership with Bulgaria's Attorney General's Office and with Bulgaria's law enforcement and security services, with whom we are working together to bring Ms. Ignatova and other criminals to justice,” he said in a statement. the US ambassador to Bulgaria H.E. Kenneth Merten.