site.btaState Agency for National Security Releases 2020 Performance Report

Sofia, May 10 (BTA) - The State Agency for National Security
(SANS) released here on Wednesday its 2020 performance report,
which says that the intelligence interest in subjects and
processes in the political, economic, and social sphere, as well
 as in the defence and security in Bulgaria, remained constant.

Three cases are mentioned as concrete results of SANS' work on
countering foreign special services, which cut short attempts by
 Russian diplomats to obtain information constituting a state
secret.  For the purpose of protecting the national security,
eleven individuals linked with foreign intelligence services
were included in the unwanted persons in Bulgaria list.

The report says that 2020 saw intensification of "the activities
 of some foreign special services as part of complex efforts to
marginalize Bulgarian positions in the area of the foreign
policy related to upholding the national interests along the
line of state-building element, such as the language, history
and culture". The activities serving foreign national doctrines,
 which aid the assimilation policy regarding Bulgarian
communities abroad, continue.

In respect of terrorism, in 2020 SANS imposed coercive
administrative measures, such as "withdrawal of the right to
stay," "expulsion," "ban from entering the Republic of
Bulgaria," and "ban from entering and staying on the territory
of the EU member states" on eight foreign nationals over links
to terrorist activities. Thirteen people were included in the
list of unwanted foreigners in Bulgaria.

In 2020, SANS did not have information about the planning of
terrorist acts on the territory of Bulgaria.

The report further says that the coronavirus pandemic
"heightened the political and economic rivalry in view of the
ongoing instability in many regions near Bulgaria". Furthermore,
 the pandemic was the main reason for the considerable reduction
 of the activities of far-Right and far-Left movements in
Europe.

Concerning the migratory pressure on Bulgaria, SANS says that it
 remained at relatively low levels "despite the slight increase
compared to the preceding year".

In 2020, on SANS' initiative and with the aim of protecting
national security, four foreign nationals were included in the
list of unwanted foreigners in Bulgaria for being involved in
infringements related to illegal migration. SANS officials
carried out a total of 1,590 interviews with foreigners who had
entered Bulgaria illegally (compared to 1,102 in 2019). As a
result of an overall assessment, eleven people were deemed
carriers of a potential risk to national security and measures
were taken not to have their stay in Bulgaria legalized.

The report says further that in 2020 the Bulgarian financial
system maintained relative stability and sustainability. The
banking system continued to maintain high liquidity and good
capital adequacy.

The risks to the financial security, according to the report,
include increase of the unserviced loans as a result of a long
period of economic uncertainty, stoppage of certain
manufacturing and certain sectors, high levels of unemployment,
as well as attempts to spread false information in the mass
media discrediting individual financial institutions or entire
sectoral policies/systems.

In 2020, SANS carried out operations to crack down on tax fraud
and other fiscal violations. The report says that, according to
preliminary estimates, "the perpetrated criminal activity caused
 detriment to the budget in the excess of 510 million leva,
while given its long-term nature, the amount of the detriment
that was averted is several times higher".

After checks that were carried out and on orders of the head of
SANS' Financial Intelligence Directorate, 113 suspicious
transactions were suspended worth 37.5 million euro.

In respect of the weapons industry, the persisting tendency from
 recent years was observed in 2020 as well, which is of falling
volumes of foreign contracts for defence-related products
manufactured by Bulgarian companies in the sector.

In 2020, SANS performed 15 checks on tracing of arms with
possible Bulgarian origin found in conflict zones. No violations
 of the legislation and international regulations were
established. NV/ZH