Interior Minister Mladen Marinov and State Agency for National Security chair Dimitar Georgiev informed the National Assembly of the charges against the chairman of the Russophiles movement Nikolay Malinov of espionage for Russia.

Minister Mladenov announced that eight people had temporarily been detained in connection with this case and inquests, searches, perquisitions and seizures have been conducted on the territory of Sofia, Pernik and Breznik. Dimitar Georgiev confirmed that with financing from Russian citizens whom Malinov was in contact with, initiatives have been financed aimed at asserting certain policies in Bulgaria. One of these individuals is on the US and EU sanctions lists for acts against the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and the other is a high-ranking intelligence service official. During his multiple travels to Russia Malinov has been assigned tasks by these persons, in some instances he has received financing. He has also written a memorandum on the need for Bulgaria’s geopolitical reorientation.