site.btaPolice Launches Checks of All Guest Houses Built with EU Grants

Sofia, April 24 (BTA) - The Prosecutor General ordered the National Police to conduct checks of all guest houses built with EU grants. An investigation has already been launched in Blagoevgrad (Southwestern Bulgaria) in connection with former Deputy Economy Minister Alexander Manolev. Manolev resigned after an investigative report found that a company, which he is believed to have used as a front, spent a EU grant to build a luxury guest house which never operated as such but was used solely by Manolev and his family.

The National Police is investigating into allegations that the family of Elena Yoncheva, BSP for Bulgaria Spokesperson and Socialists' top candidate for the European elections, does not use as intended guest houses funded by EU grants.

The police investigation is directed towards documents on all projects from the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.

Police officers will check whether guest houses are used as intended and will review information on registration cards of tourists that spent a night there. The checks will also include whether registered guests actually visited the guest house in question.

The Prosecutor General ordered the police to also conduct checks of all projects' funding expenses related to the purchase of vehicles for non-agriculture activities directly related to the beneficiaries' activity.

A team of prosecutors will take over the management of and assistance for the checks, which should be completed within two months.