Prosecutor’s office asked Bulgaria’s central bank to check the gold bars and banknotes from the photographs allegedly taken in the former PM’s bedroom

Sofia City Prosecutor's Office has asked the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) for expert assessment and information on the serial numbers of the banknotes and gold bars from the photos, which were allegedly taken in the bedroom of the prime minister’'s state-owned villa when it was used by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov..

BNT learned that Sofia city prosecutor's office has opened a case file based on media publications.

The state prosecution declined to comment, but did not deny that they were working on the topic.

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On the morning of June 17, 2020, photos were leaked to several media allegedly showing former PM Borissov sleeping in his bedroom in the official state residence in Boyana with a handgun on his nightstand, and other photos showing drawers full of bundles of 500-euro notes and a few gold bars, in what appears to be the same bedroom.

This came a few days after audio recording with words allegedly attributable to the then Prime Minister had been leaked through the media.

Later on June 17, 2020, Borissov called an extraordinary meeting of his GERB party.

PM: The discrediting disclosures aim at early elections and interim government.

Speaking at the news briefing, Borissov commented that the attacks against him and the ruling party were aimed at overthrowing the government and provoking early parliamentary elections and forming a caretaker government. According to him, the attacks come from the political opponents - from the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), President Rumen Radev is also involved, he said.

He accused the President of spying on him with a drone.

The next day, June 18, 2020, President Radev said that he indeed owned a drone but everything else was “just Borissov’s fantasy and paranoia”. He added: “I can’t comment on everything Borissov claims. My imagination has its limits.”

President: I have a drone, but I have nothing to do with what the PM says