Ministry of Interior signals the US regarding attempts to circumvent Magnitsky Act sanctions

The Ministry of Interior has initiated contact with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) under the US Department of the Treasury. According to an official statement from the department, Bulgarian authorities are ready to provide the necessary information, documents, and evidence relevant to the effectiveness of the sanctions imposed under the global Magnitsky Act.

In a letter signed by Minister of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev, it is noted that during various operational activities of the Ministry of Interior, data was discovered that raises suspicions of assistance from both individuals and legal entities. These persons are suspected of helping sanctioned individuals circumvent or limit the effects of the restrictions imposed on them.

"Available data points to the possible use of related persons, commercial companies, and other mechanisms through which sanctioned individuals continue to exercise effective control over assets, business activities, financial flows, as well as making various payments," the document to the American agency emphasizes.

This action by the Ministry of Interior occurs in the context of tension surrounding investigations into flights to Dubai. Last week, Minister Demerdzhiev made statements regarding a joint flight of Delyan Peevski and Desislava Atanasova, raising questions about how the flights were paid for by Peevski, who is under sanctions under the Magnitsky Act. Representatives of the DPS reject the allegations, calling the investigation illegal and calling on international institutions such as Interpol to intervene.