Bulgarian officials allege diverted procurement funds paid for Delyan Peevski’s flights

Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev has alleged that funds diverted from public procurement contracts for road barriers (mantineli) were used to finance private flights for DPS leader Delyan Peevski. According to Demerdzhiev, money was funneled through a shell company with no real business activity, acting as a ‘piggy bank’ to cover flight costs exceeding 5 million euros.

The investigation involves four companies that received significant public contracts, with indexed contracts totaling over 150 million euros. Demerdzhiev noted that the company paying for the flights is owned by the father of Bulgaria’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, prompting calls for the ambassador's recall.

Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced that the state will conduct a comprehensive review of compromised public procurements and internal transfers. Delyan Peevski has denied the allegations, labeling them as ‘fabrications’ and stating he will appeal to the prosecutor's office.