Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria can claim ownership of Russian church in Sofia through the courts, acting Prosecutor General says

Photo: БГНЕС

Acting Prosecutor-General Borislav Sarafov has suggested to Regional Development Minister Andrey Tsekov that he file a lawsuit over the ownership of the Church of St Nicholas the Wonderworker in Sofia, widely known as the Russian Church, in order to have it recognised as the property of the Bulgarian state. 
A deed dated 23.07.1997 declared the Orthodox temple and the land on which it was built to be the property of the Russian Embassy. This deed was issued at the request of the Russian Ambassador on the basis of a deed of donation dated 7 November 1898 for "a vacant urban plot in the city of St. Nicholas" by the Sofia City Council. Sofia" by the Sofia Municipality to the Russian Imperial Diplomatic Agency in Bulgaria. However, an investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office has uncovered facts that can be used to refute this ownership. These include bilateral documents from 1940 between Bulgaria and the USSR on the free use of the church building by the Bulgarian state.

The Russian church in Sofia came into the public spotlight after three priests from the temple were expelled from Bulgaria in September, accused of spying for Moscow.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Prevala mountain pass

Increased traffic on Bulgaria's roads before Christmas, rain and snow expected

Increased traffic is expected on the country's roads during the weekend . During peak hours, 1,500 cars per hour will pass on the highways. A special traffic organization has been introduced on the Hemus highway.  Traffic for heavy trucks through..

published on 12/21/24 10:14 AM

Mural unveiled in Bulgaria's Plovdiv dedicated to 20 years of Bulgaria's NATO membership

In the presence of diplomats, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov unveiled in Plovdiv the latest mural from the ministry's competition "Bulgaria - More Beautiful in NATO". The event is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the country's membership in..

published on 12/21/24 9:45 AM

Weather forecast: Yellow weather alert for rain and snow in 21 regions of the country

On Saturday, a cold front will sweep across the country. During the night there will be rain in Western and Central Bulgaria, and snow in the mountains and on higher ground. A snow cover will form. Minimum temperatures 1-6° C., for Sofia around 1°..

published on 12/20/24 6:35 PM