Police chief in Razgrad detained in corruption investigation

The head of the “Migration” unit at the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Razgrad was detained on August 14 in a corruption investigation. During the raid by the Internal Security Directorate of the Ministry of Interior and the District Prosecutor's Office in Razgrad, a total of 5 people were arrested and one more is wanted.

Pavel Marinov was detained this morning in his office, which is located in the building of the District Directorate of the Ministry of Interior. He has been in the Ministry of Interior system since 1995 and since 2011 he has been the head of the “Migration” unit at the District Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Razgrad.

According to initial information, together with 5 other people he was allegedly involved in a criminal scheme for fictitious registration of foreigners - applicants for long-term residence in the Republic of Bulgaria.

According to the indictment, two of those arrested today were intermediaries in the recruitment of candidates for obtaining type D visas, which give the right to long-term residence in Bulgaria. They found addresses where they fictitiously registered foreigners.

As the head of the “Migration” unit, Pavel Marinov did not check whether the persons mentioned were at the addresses given.

"This is an act of corruption. The comment about the Internal Security Directorate, that is exactly what it concerns - investigation of crimes, corruption bribes," said the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Chief Commissioner Petar Todorov.

"The investigation is at the beginning. This is another example that the Ministry of Interior is working well. It is working both in counteracting organised and conventional crime, as well as antisocial behaviour and crimes of the employees of our ministry," Deputy Interior Minister Stoyan Temelakiev said.

Two women who were providing translation services have also been detained in the case. One more person is wanted.

Procedural and investigative actions are continuing at multiple addresses. The District Prosecutor's Office in Razgrad promised more details tomorrow morning.