Bulgaria recalls UAE envoy over alleged Peevski links
Bulgaria has recalled its ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Ivan Yordanov, following allegations of financial links involving U.S.-sanctioned lawmaker Delyan Peevski and companies that secured state contracts.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev called for Yordanov to return to Sofia, while Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova ordered an inspection of the Bulgarian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Probe focuses on private flights
Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said investigators found that a shell company had paid more than $5 million for private jet flights used by Peevski.
According to the findings presented by the government, the company is owned by Yordanov’s father and received funds from four companies that won state contracts to supply and install road guardrails.
The contracts were worth more than €400 million and were later increased by more than €150 million, authorities said.
Yordanov and Peevski deny allegations
Yordanov rejected the allegations, saying he had no connection to Peevski’s flights and that his father’s company had never participated in road guardrail tenders.
Peevski also denied the claims, calling them false and saying that he and his family paid for his flights.
Bulgarian authorities said their investigation examined 36 private flights linked to Peevski, with a combined cost of more than €5 million.
Investigation continues
The government has opened a broader investigation into Peevski, who has been sanctioned by the United States and United Kingdom over corruption allegations.
The available findings do not allege that Yordanov personally paid for or arranged Peevski’s flights.
Source:turkiyetoday
