site.btaFormer Economy Minister Charged in Connection with Belene N-Plant Equipment Sale

Former Economy Minister Charged in Connection with Belene N-Plant Equipment Sale

Sofia, October 19 (BTA) - The prosecution service said on Wednesday it has charged former economy and energy minister Peter Dimitrov with mismanagement. According to the prosecution, from an unknown date in 2007 until December 13 of that year Dimitrov deliberately refrained from exercising proper control over National Electric Company (NEK) executive directors Lyubomir Velkov and Mardik Papazyan regarding the sale of equipment from the unfinished Belene nuclear power plant to the Russian company Atomstroyexport. The deal inflicted 77,172,475 euro detriment on NEK.

Dimitrov, representing the Ministry of Economy and Energy as sole owner of NEK's capital, was required to exercise control over Velkov and Papazyan, but he intentionally refrained from taking proper action, the prosecution said. Dimitrov is free on recognizance not to leave Bulgaria.

The news comes after Tuesday's Energy Ministry announcement that Dimitrov and two other ex-ministers in the Stanishev cabinet (2005-2009) will be removed from the managing and supervisory bodies of three energy companies.