Bulgaria's Interior Ministry has sent a notification to the National Revenue Agency (NRA) requesting a check into the expenses of Delyan Peevski, chairman of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) parliamentary group, the ministry announced.
The move follows a statement Peevski made on Friday, published on the party's website. Asked who pays for his flights, he replied: "My family and I! I'm saying it clearly — I have documents for everything. My family and I have paid for my flights."
The Interior Ministry says it has information indicating these expenses amount to 5 million euros across 36 invoices. Interior Minister Daniel Mitov [Demerdzhiev] is therefore asking the NRA to determine the size of Peevski's payments for flights and related costs. The check should establish over what period the payments were made and where the money came from.
The minister also expects an examination of Peevski's declared income for the relevant tax periods, and whether it matches his assets and the expenses incurred. Demerdzhiev wants it clarified whether the money for the flights constitutes income subject to declaration and taxation, and whether the costs were covered personally by Peevski or by a third party.
The goal, the Interior Ministry explains, is to establish the actual amount paid for the flights and the source of the funds. The findings will then be compared against the lawmaker's declared assets and income.
The Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA) recalled that last week, at a briefing, the government said Peevski's flights had been paid for with funds from public procurement contracts for guardrails. Later, in parliament, the DPS leader dismissed these claims as fabrications.
In late August, Demerdzhiev had already referred the matter to the National Audit Office over suspicions of a discrepancy between Peevski's declared assets and income and his lifestyle.