Bulgarian Justice Minister Receives Documents Related to Alleged Corruption Network

Sofia, Bulgaria – Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov has taken possession of documents from the civil movement BOETS (Bulgaria United with One Purpose) related to allegations of corruption involving a network known as “The Eight Dwarfs” and individuals including Petyo Petrov, nicknamed “The Euro.” The move comes after BOETS provided what they describe as an “archive” of materials potentially clarifying the circumstances surrounding the alleged criminal network.

Investigation into European Prosecutor

The case gained prominence following European Prosecutor Teodora Georgieva’s willingness to testify about alleged ties between judicial lobbyist Petyo Petrov, acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov, and politician Delyan Peevski. A pre-trial investigation was opened in 2025 into allegations that Georgieva abused her official position between 2020 and March 2025 to obtain unlawful financial benefits. These claims originated with Petyo Petrov, who, in 2023, reportedly told the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) he had made monthly payments intended to influence judicial proceedings, though he did not name specific cases at that time. BTA News

Documents Forwarded to Authorities

According to a statement from the Ministry of Justice, the documents received from BOETS contain allegations of “crimes of a general nature – corruption, abuse of power, crime against justice” and other offenses allegedly committed by high-ranking officials, as well as “data on disciplinary violations and acts undermining the authority of the judiciary committed by magistrates.”

Minister Yankulov has forwarded the BOETS signal, along with the scanned documents, to the Ministry of the Interior for verification and potential legal action. He has also sent the materials to the chairman of the Criminal Board of the Supreme Court of Cassation for consideration regarding follow-up actions under the mechanism for the independent investigation of the chief prosecutor.

Working Group Established

A working group has been established within the Ministry of Justice, chaired by Deputy Minister Tanya Radulovska, to review, systematize, and legally analyze the received documents. The group is tasked with preparing proposals for possible actions within the Minister of Justice’s competence and will deliver a summary report to Minister Yankulov by April 1, 2026.

Background: “The Eight Dwarfs” Case

The investigation resurfaces questions surrounding the “Eight Dwarfs” corruption scandal. Previously, Bulgarian prosecutors closed the main investigation into this scandal, citing a lack of evidence that magistrates were bribed. Though, witness statements now claim that money was prepared and distributed to magistrates, including Georgieva. BTA News

Witness testimony suggests Georgieva allegedly met regularly with Petrov at the “Eight Dwarfs” restaurant, where envelopes containing BGN 10,000 (approximately EUR 5,000) were reportedly prepared for her. BTA News

Petyo Petrov’s Status

As of February 11, 2025, Petyo Petrov did not have a valid European arrest warrant, hindering efforts to search for and detain him. The Sofia City Court removed Petrov from Interpol’s wanted list in December 2023. Fakti.bg The prosecution seeks to bring Petrov to court for document fraud related to the “Eight Dwarfs” case, alleging he received gold coins and bars worth over 1.3 million leva through forged documents.

BOETS Investigation

The civil association BOETS has been investigating the operations of the “Eight Dwarfs” model, including connections to prosecutor Mihaela Raydovska, a candidate for European Prosecutor. Fakti.bg