site.btaEducation Minister Petitions Prosecution Office on False Media Allegations

Education Minister Petitions Prosecution Office on  False Media Allegations

Sofia, December 19 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Education and Science Minister Meglena Kuneva petitioned the Prosecution Office in connection with false allegations published in the Monday issue of the "Troud" daily, the press centre of the Education Ministry said.

The author of the article alleges that a 25,000 euro donation by the Federal Republic of Germany "has sunk without any trace in muddy waters" around outgoing Minister Kuneva. The question reportedly was about targeted financing for clinical trials and research.

The potential beneficiaries of the alleged grant financing were the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Health Ministry. The author of the article referred to an official document, signed on April 20, 2016. However, the funding was allegedly spent on other purposes, according to the media.

The Education Ministry has not received a donation for clinical trials by the German Medical Association with BAS and the Health Ministry as end beneficiaries, says the Ministry's message. Minister Kuneva has never signed any contract with Dr. Guenther Jonitz. It is even said that Dr. Jonitz, pointed out in the article as Chairman of the Association, does not hold this post. He is President of the Berlin Medical Chamber.

The Education Ministry states that the paper has violated the norms of the Ethical Code of Bulgarian Journalists and the rules of fair journalist practice.