[REVISION HISTORY]

Bulgarian diplomatic and procurement corruption probe

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2026-10-20 14:01 UTC → 2026-11-03 12:00 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Bulgaria is investigating a corruption scheme involving the diversion of state funds to cover private jet travel for lawmaker Delyan Peevski. Ambassador Ivan Yordanov was recalled to Bulgaria following allegations that funds from state contracts—initially linked to road guardrails and later described as involving companies supplying blankets—were diverted to a shell company allegedly owned by Yordanov’s father. Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova has ordered a comprehensive on-site inspection of the Bulgarian Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The investigation into flight costs has intensified. While Peevski claimed he and his family personally paid for the travel, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev testified in Parliament that documentation from Hyperion Aviation shows no personal payments were made by Peevski for flights between January 2023 and June 2026. Instead, 36 bank transfers totaling approximately 5,083,800 euros were paid by Spectrum Air EAD, a company that purchased the aircraft used for the flights. Regarding the source of the diverted funds, Demerdzhiev highlighted irregularities in public procurement for protective clothing and road infrastructure. He noted that in early 2022, the Road Infrastructure Agency awarded contracts to interconnected entities controlling 99.6% of the market, with contract values increasing from approximately 253.8 million leva to 414.8 million leva through annexes. ~~The National Revenue Agency has been requested to conduct a tax probe to determine if these expenditures constitute taxable income or were paid by third parties.~~ Following political pressure and a request from Prime Minister Rumen Radev, Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova issued a decree dismissing Ivan Yordanov from his post as Ambassador to the United Arab ~~Emirates. The dismissal,~~ Emirates, officially published in the State Gazette on October 20, ~~2026, follows~~ 2026. Recently, Interior Minister Demerdzhiev criticized the ~~allegations that~~ National Audit Office for refusing to act on a ~~company responsible~~ signal regarding the undeclared flights, accusing the institution of acting as a “shield” for influential political figures. The Audit Office stated that the investigation into Peevski’s ~~flight expenses~~ declarations is ~~owned by~~ ongoing and has been referred to the ~~ambassador’s father.~~ National Revenue Agency.

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