Bulgaria Ex Minister Charged with Embezzlement

Maslarova, a Socialist member of parliament, is accused of taking BNG 11 million (about €5.6 million) from funds that were earmarked for renovations to a social home in Stara Zagora, Novinite reports.

Senior prosecutor Boris Velchev said that the Ministry of Labor and Social Services, under the leadership of Maslarova, had budgeted BGN 18.8 million (about €9.6 million) for the renovations. However, only BGN 7.8 million (€3.99 million) actually went to construction and repair costs, while the rest was allegedly embezzled through fake invoices.

Maslarova was set free on BNG 50,000 (€25,500) bail, and has since said that the bail is too high and that she will appeal the amount.

Maslarova continues to maintain her innocence and has claimed that the accusations leveled at her are groundless.

In recent months several corruption scandals involving the previous Socialist-led government have come to light. Former Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev was accused of losing classified crime reports and former Agriculture Minister Valeri Tsvetanov and former Defense Minister Nikolay Tsonev face charges of abuse of power.

The new center-right government in Bulgaria has vowed to step up its fight against corruption and crime.