SOFIA. Bulgaria has announced the discovery of a network of alleged Russian spies, in this EU member country and NATO. Five people were arrested, all military or ex-military, said Siyka Mileva, spokesman for the prosecutor general. This is the worst case of Russian espionage since 1944, said Attorney General Ivan Gwshev, stressing that the investigation is of “particular relevance” to the security of Bulgaria, the EU, NATO and the United States. Among those arrested is a former military attaché, who is currently in charge of the register of confidential information in the Bulgarian parliament. The alleged leader of the spy group is a senior Bulgarian military intelligence official who was allegedly trained by Moscow to recruit “an illegal network of agents” from people who have access to confidential information concerning Bulgaria, NATO and the EU. . The wife is also believed to be involved. The prosecutor’s office brought wiretaps and videos of views to the Russian embassy as evidence.
“It is not the first time that we have witnessed the activities of foreign embassies that are not compatible with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” said the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, speaking of an “unacceptable” affair. A former country of the Warsaw Pact, Bulgaria has expelled Russian diplomats several times, the last time in 2020. The new case of espionage comes close to the parliamentary elections on April 4, where for the first time an openly pro party is in the running Russian. The Russian embassy in Sofia has asked for an end to speculation “on a possible involvement of Russia in intelligence operations against the interests of Bulgaria” until a court ruling.