Listen to the news

Following a referral from the National Security State Agency, the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office filed charges in an investigation into damage caused to Bulgargaz EAD for over BGN 88 million. After a report to the prosecutor at the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office (SGP), an investigator at the National office (NSlS) brought as defendants A.N., D.N. and L.Y. in an investigation into damage caused to "Bulgargaz" EAD for over BGN 88 million.

The pre-trial proceedings were initiated on 30.08.2022 by a decree of a prosecutor from the SGP based on materials received by the State Agency "National Security" (DANS) and after assessing that they contain sufficient data for a crime of a general nature.

Due to the particular factual and legal complexity of the case, at the proposal of the SGP with a decree of the general prosecutor, the investigation was assigned to the National Criminal Court, where it is conducted by a team of investigators.

The subject of the investigation are gas supply contracts and the circumstances related to them.

In the course of it, numerous investigative actions were carried out and a large amount of evidence was collected, which the supervising prosecutor deemed sufficient within the meaning of Art.

219, para.

1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for bringing accused persons. 

Alexander Nikolov accused of refusing to pay Gazprom in rubles

A.N. and L.Y. are brought to criminal liability for deliberate unkemptness in particularly large proportions and representing a particularly serious case (Art. 219, para. 4 in conjunction with para. 3 of the Criminal Code), as A.N. was brought as a defendant for not exercising sufficient control over the work of L.Y., who was entrusted with the management and disposal of public property - that of "Bulgargaz" EAD, and L.Y. - for not taking sufficient care in the management and preservation of the property entrusted to him - that of "Bulgargaz" EAD.

The former energy minister, Alexander Nikolov, came to the Investigative Service for questioning

D.N. was brought in as a defendant for a crime on duty - under Art.

282, para.

3 in conjunction with para.

2 in conjunction with para.

1 of the Criminal Code, in his capacity as an official holding a responsible position, with the aim of obtaining a benefit for the trading company "M" EAD, exceeded his authority and rights

, performing an action that is within the powers of the Minister of Energy, significant harmful consequences have occurred from the act and the case is particularly serious.

According to the evidence collected so far, the damage from the crimes amounts to over BGN 88,000,000 (eighty-eight million) and occurred for Bulgargaz EAD.

From the Investigation with a hot comment about the accusations against Alexander Nikolov and the former head of "Bulgargaz"

According to the indictment, as a result of the willful bankruptcy and the crime in office, the fulfillment of the obligations of "Bulgargaz" EAD was threatened in accordance with the license for the public supply of natural gas for the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria for a period of 35 years

, issued by the State Energy Commission and water regulation, as the only public supplier of natural gas for the territory of our country, and thus the fulfillment of the licensee's obligations to ensure a continuous and high-quality supply of natural gas and the security of natural gas supply was put at risk.

The collection and verification of evidence in the case continues in accordance with the requirements of the law for conducting a full, objective and comprehensive investigation, reported the press center of the SGP.

Alexander Nikolov

accusations