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

Bulgaria is ready to protect its borders in a new way after joining Schengen

A review of all border checkpoints has been conducted and active cooperation is underway with all institutions responsible for the border crossing points i n connection with Bulgaria's entry into Schengen , caretaker Minister of Interior Atanas Ilkov..

published on 12/22/24 2:39 PM

Less than 50% of companies in Bulgaria pay Christmas bonuses this year

This year, employers prefer to replace the 13th salary with Christmas events and bonuses. Less than 50% of companies in Bulgaria pay bonuses. Their size depends on the employee's performance, according to a survey by one of the leaders in the..

published on 12/22/24 11:50 AM

Movement for Rights and Freedoms holds a national conference

The 12th National Conference of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) will be held today in Sofia. It is expected that structural changes will be made so that DPS will have only one chairman - Delyan Peevski. It is also expected that the figure..

published on 12/22/24 11:32 AM