Bulgaria recalls UAE ambassador over alleged corruption probe

Bulgaria corruption probe private jet flights public procurement diplomatic recall

Bulgaria has recalled its ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Ivan Yordanov, following allegations of a corruption scheme involving private jet flights used by U.S.-sanctioned lawmaker Delyan Peevski.

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev reported that a shell company, allegedly owned by Yordanov’s father, was used to pay for 36 private flights for Peevski, totaling more than 5 million euros. Investigators claim these funds were diverted from state contracts for road guardrails. These contracts, worth over 400 million euros and later increased by 150 million euros, were reportedly dominated by four companies that hold a 99.5% market share.

Prime Minister Rumen Radev has called for Yordanov’s immediate removal, and Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova has ordered an inspection of the Bulgarian Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Ambassador Yordanov has denied all allegations, stating that neither he nor his family has any connection to Peevski’s flights or the procurement contracts. Peevski also dismissed the claims as false, asserting that he and his family paid for the flights themselves.

Entities

Bulgaria · Delyan Peevski · Ievan Yordanov · Ivan Demerdzhiev · Ivan Yordanov · Rumen Radev · Velislava Petrová

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 8 SOURCES] The company used to pay for the flights is owned by the father of Bulgaria’s ambassador to the UAE. netnews.bg · www.milletnews.com · www.europesays.com · www.actualno.com · petel.bg · +2 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The Bulgarian government has initiated a review of Ambassador Ivan Yordanov's position. netnews.bg · www.milletnews.com · www.europesays.com · cronicadecantabria.com · www.actualno.com · +2 more
[● 5 SOURCES] Delyan Peevski dismissed the allegations as fabrications and stated he would involve the prosecutor's office. petel.bg · www.milletnews.com · netnews.bg · www.actualno.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Four related companies win 99.5% of public procurement contracts for road barriers. petel.bg · www.standartnews.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Ambassador Ivan Yordanov denied any connection between his family and the private flights. netnews.bg · petel.bg · www.milletnews.com
[● 8 SOURCES] Funds from public contracts for road barriers were diverted to a shell company. netnews.bg · petel.bg · www.milletnews.com · www.europesays.com · www.actualno.com · +2 more
[● 8 SOURCES] A shell company paid for 36 private flights for Delyan Peevski. netnews.bg · petel.bg · www.milletnews.com · www.europesays.com · www.actualno.com · +2 more
[● 8 SOURCES] The total value of the private flights exceeds 5 million euros. netnews.bg · petel.bg · www.milletnews.com · www.europesays.com · www.actualno.com · +2 more