“For a little more than a year, the Main Directorate “Fighting Organized Crime” (DG BOP) in the Ministry of Internal Affairs has carried out only 8 operational inspections for corruption against persons holding high state public positions. This is what the Minister of the Interior answered in writing to my question. I would like to remind you that this activity was assigned to the newly created Anti-Corruption Commission with a new law from the beginning of October 2023. This raises serious concerns that such type of checks and investigations are not being carried out deliberately. And even if they are carried out, they are subsequently “submerged” by the Prosecutor's Office and do not reach court at all. In the response of the Ministry of the Interior to me, it is stated that with 35 reports filed since October 2023. so far, only 8 operational inspections for corruption at the highest levels of power have been carried out and they have only been initiated. 5 pre-trial proceedings. However, none of them has yet ended with charges being filed, said the People's Representative from "Vazrazhdane". - Petar Petrov at a meeting with citizens.
He also added that there is also no effectiveness and efficiency in relation to reports that state or local government bodies have misused European funds and funds. The data shows that out of 286 reports submitted to the DG BOP, there are only 17 proceedings initiated against an “unknown perpetrator” and there are no defendants in them either, which raises bewilderment and serious doubts about corruption in the Prosecutor's Office, which should investigate corruption, and this is paradoxical.
“It is obvious that there is a lack of will to deal with corruption at the highest levels of power. This is also evident from the EC report from July 2024. about justice in Bulgaria and its application. The fact that corruption charges against persons occupying high government positions never reach court in Bulgaria is astonishing. Reports are being made, but the conclusion from the statistics provided to me is the following: Inspections are covered up, and pre-trial proceedings are “fixed” from the Prosecutor's Office, KPK and the Ministry of the Interior. This is one of the reasons from “Revival” to introduce changes in the Anti-Corruption Law, in the NK and in the NPC already at the convocation of the 51st National Assembly. We are doing it because we care so much about the anti-corruption legislation and it will significantly improve the punishability of these crimes, and hence the efficiency in spending public funds”, Petrov also pointed out.
According to him, it is necessary to work much harder in a legislative way in the direction of improving the effectiveness of investigations and real control and sanctions for the vicious acts of the Prosecutor's Office, hindering the fight against corruption at the highest levels of power. This is the only way to ensure the issuance of effective sentences and the implementation of anti-corruption reforms and legislation. These are the top priorities of Vazrazhdane and the legislative changes introduced by the party are a stage in their implementation for the benefit of Bulgarian society.