Bulgaria’s Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev recently delivered a report to Parliament, shedding light on ongoing investigations concerning several individuals, including politician Delyan Peevski, who have been sanctioned under the US Global Magnitsky Act. This development follows demands from lawmakers pressing for transparency and access to details regarding these high-profile probes.
The Interior Ministry’s report encompasses flight reservation and travel records from 2023 through June 2026 for those under investigation. This information is part of ongoing inquiries and, according to officials, does not influence future actions by law enforcement. The core focus of the investigation is to determine whether the sanctioned individuals employed associates, businesses, or other means to circumvent international sanctions while retaining control over financial assets and business activities. Additionally, Bulgarian authorities are collaborating with the US Treasury Department to explore potential sanctions evasion.
Interest in this matter has been heightened by allegations concerning Peevski’s use of private jets and the funding of over 180 private flights, which has raised questions. Authorities are scrutinizing possible connections between these flights and business dealings, along with assets linked to the Corpbank case.
Simultaneously, Bulgaria’s Prosecutor’s Office has initiated inspections into complaints about the alleged misuse of passenger reservation (PNR) data. The outcome of these inspections will determine if there is a basis to launch a formal criminal investigation.