site.bta National Police Holds Searches at Bulgartransgaz in EPPO Investigation

The national police is assisting an investigation of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) against state-owned natural gas transmission and storage operator Bulgartransgaz. That transpired from remarks by Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov for the press as he was asked to confirm media reports about an EPPO operation. That remained the only official comment on the matter. 

Stoyanov said that searches have taken place at several addresses in Sofia, Sliven and Kozloduy.

He said he was not aware of further details and suggested that the press should seek more information from EPPO.

Prompted by the absence of official information, the members of the parliamentary Energy Committee, nominated by the parliamentary group of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB), moved Tuesday for a hearing of caretaker Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov.

The CC-DB deputies said in a post on social media that they moved for the hearing to be held on August 14, at a meeting of the Energy Committee in the National Assembly. They argued that given the lack of an official information from Bulgartransgaz and the contradictory media reports on what caused the EPPO actions, a hearing can clarify whether EPPO, which investigates crimes with EU funds, carried out its searches as part of an investigation related to a project for expansion of the Chiren underground gas storage facility or to a contract with the Turkish company Botas. They also argued that before he took up his current position, caretaker Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov was CEO of Bulgartransgaz and therefore he would have the most complete information on the case.