Former Bulgarian int min agrees to wiretapping scandal interrogation

Former Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov agreed to be interrogated about allegations pertaining to the illegal wiretapping of politicians during his term of office, the local media reported, June 7.

“Bulgaria’s embattled former Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov will be interrogated by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office in relation to high-profile wiretapping allegations,” Sofia news wire novinite.com wrote.

An investigation into the scandal found that wiretapping devices were acquired in 2009, when Tsvetanov headed the ministry under the center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party. The Chief State Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov maintains that the formal procedure required to set up taps in the ministry may have left room for illegal activity.

Tsatsarov said that his investigation detected “malfeasance in office and abuse of wiretapping equipment,” novinite.com wrote.

The tapes containing the alleged illegal material were deleted, however, and a team of experts is currently working to retrieve the material.

Tsatsarov maintains that the tapes were deleted as an act of sabotage against the investigation.

Meanwhile, the media is calling the case the “Bulgarian Watergate.” If found guilty Tsvetanov could be sentenced to up to eight years in prison.