Copyright © 2021 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

Bulgaria opens investigation into pro-Russian paramilitary groups

prosecutor office bulgaria
Prosecutor’s Office of Republic of Bulgaria/ Source: Sprotyv.info

European Pravda reports, citing Euractiv, that following a tip that pro-Russian paramilitary groups had committed crimes against the country, Sofia’s Prosecutor’s Office instructed the country’s counterintelligence agency to investigate the activities of the alleged groups.

The prosecutor’s office now claims it received a tip from a citizen. However, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC) previously provided the state prosecution with publicly available data. It gave evidence of the formation of secret or paramilitary structures in 2016.

Two Bulgarian-registered NGOs, BNO Shipka and BND Shipka are under the authority’s scrutiny. It is due to their ties to a so-called military union, Levski. Additionally, they have experienced increased activity in Bulgaria following the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea.

According to Bellingcat research, the two groups are believed to offer specialized training to volunteers from Russian ex-special ops instructors to promote anti-EU and anti-NATO propaganda. They are also considered to promote the rhetoric of revolting against an illegitimate government, banning political parties, and sweeping racist and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.

During the first refugee crisis, these groups also organized a hunt for Syrian immigrants on the Strandja mountain. Additionally, they actively spread fake news during the pandemic.

“We safeguard the interests of our Euro-Atlantic and European allies. We cannot permit nefarious Russian influence in Bulgaria,” said Chief Public Prosecutor Ivan Geshev.

Bulgaria’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s office promised to provide additional information once the investigation is concluded.

Read also:

Bulgaria approves first military aid package to Ukraine: no jets or air defense

Protests against military aid to Ukraine take place in Bulgarian cities

Gas pipeline interconnecting Greece and Bulgaria starts commercial operation

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!
Total
0
Shares