Bulgaria investigates claims bank laundered Russian money

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Bulgaria is investigating allegations that Russian money has been laundered through a financial institution in the country, the state-run BTA news agency reported on Tuesday.

The Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office said the State Agency for National Security (SANS) has been asked to conduct the investigation, and approach lawmaker Delyan Dobrev, who recently made the claims.

The legal timeframe for such an investigation is three months, after which the supervising prosecutor will determine if there is enough evidence of a general offense to initiate pretrial proceedings.

Dobrev said in an interview on Sunday that Sofia was violating EU sanctions imposed on Moscow, with a bank in Bulgaria transferring money to Russian oligarchs in Europe.

“Through this particular bank, large dubious money transfers to another country in Europe – to Hungary, which are believed to be connected to Russian oligarchs and interests,” the BTA quoted Dobrev as saying.

“Our source is reliable, so we believe that this is true,” Dobrev said, adding that the information came from a “partner service.”

The country's central bank, the Bulgarian National Bank, said no such case had been referred to it, and by law anti-money laundering measures are the responsibility of SANS.