Monitor this situation.
Unsubscribe anytime.
[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [POLITICS]
3 clusters · 17 sources · 5 days · First seen · Last updated
Bulgarian diplomatic corruption investigation
Overview
Bulgaria recalled its ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Ivan Yordanov, following allegations of a corruption scheme. Investigators claimed that funds were diverted from state road guardrail contracts—valued at over 400 million euros—to a shell company allegedly owned by Yordanov’s father. These funds were reportedly used to pay for 36 private jet flights for U.S.-sanctioned lawmaker Delyan Peevski.
Yordanov and Peevski both denied the allegations. While the Prime Minister called for Yordanov’s immediate removal, the Foreign Minister ordered an inspection of the Bulgarian Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Following the investigation, Yordanov returned to Bulgaria. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed his arrival, noting that a comprehensive on-site inspection of the UAE diplomatic mission will be conducted. A final decision regarding Yordanov’s dismissal will require a proposal from the Council of Ministers and a presidential decree.
Expanding the investigation into the flight costs, Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev has requested that the National Revenue Agency (NAP) conduct a tax probe into Delyan Peevski. The Ministry of Interior reported that 36 invoices for these flights total approximately 5 million euros. Authorities seek to verify the actual amounts paid, the source of the funds, and whether there is a discrepancy between Peevski’s declared income and these expenditures. Peevski has dismissed the allegations as ‘fabrications’ and indicated he would contact the prosecutor’s office.
Entities
Delyan Peevski · Rumen Radev · Ivan Demerdzhiev · Ivan Yordanov · Velislava Petrová
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
Coverage disagrees
Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.
-
"Interior Minister Ivan Demerzhiev alleged that a company owned by the father of Ambassador Ivan Yordanov funded private flights for DPS leader Delyan Peevski." ruse.news · netnews.bg · trafficnews.bg · viaranews.com · petel.bg · +1 more
vs
"Ambassador Ivan Yordanov denied any involvement in organizing or paying for the private flights." netnews.bg
One claim asserts that a company owned by the Ambassador's father funded private flights for Delyan Peevski, while the Ambassador denies involvement in organizing or paying for such flights.
- [DISPUTED] Interior Minister Ivan Demerzhiev alleged that a company owned by the father of Ambassador Ivan Yordanov funded private flights for DPS leader Delyan Peevski. ruse.news · netnews.bg · trafficnews.bg · viaranews.com · petel.bg · +1 more
- [DISPUTED] Ambassador Ivan Yordanov denied any involvement in organizing or paying for the private flights. netnews.bg
- [● 4 SOURCES] Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova ordered an on-site inspection of the Bulgarian diplomatic mission in the UAE to be conducted within the coming weeks. ruse.news · netnews.bg · petel.bg · www.vesti.bg
- [● 2 SOURCES] Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed he personally selected Ivan Yordanov for the post in 2022. trafficnews.bg · viaranews.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Ministry of Interior uncovered a scheme involving four companies supplying blankets that diverted funds to a company known as 'piggy bank'. ruse.news
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova signed a proposal to the Council of Ministers to initiate the constitutional procedure for the dismissal of Ambassador Yordanov. viaranews.com
Timeline
-
3 days ago
[POLITICS] 7 sourcesBulgarian Interior Minister requests tax probe into Delyan Peevski's flight costsBulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev has called for a tax investigation into Delyan Peevski regarding 5 million euros in flight expenses.
-
3 days ago
[POLITICS] 8 sourcesAmbassador Ivan Yordanov returns to Bulgaria amid UAE diplomatic scandalBulgarian Ambassador Ivan Yordanov has returned to Bulgaria amid investigations into allegations that his father's company funded private flights for Delyan Peevski. A formal recall process has begun.
-
8 days ago
[POLITICS] 9 sourcesBulgaria recalls UAE ambassador over alleged corruption probeBulgaria recalled its UAE ambassador, Ivan Yordanov, amid allegations that a company owned by his father paid over 5 million euros for private flights used by sanctioned lawmaker Delyan Peevski.
Sources
actualno.com · crimes.bg · cronicadecantabria.com · defakto.bg · europesays.com · fakti.bg · kliuki.bg · milletnews.com · moreto.net · netnews.bg · petel.bg · plovdiv24.bg · ruse.news · standartnews.com · trafficnews.bg · vesti.bg · viaranews.com
This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history