Major property fraud scheme linked to 'Velichie'

Bulgaria’s Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating a large-scale property fraud and money laundering scheme connected to the 'Historical Park', which is associated with Ivelin Mihaylov, the leader of the Velichie party. Those arrested include the lawmaker’s wife and his accountant.

According to BNR, individuals were promised property in return for buying shares in the park. However, the houses were never built, and the funds were never returned. Insiders familiar with the investigation claim that tens of millions of leva were moved through the scheme, in which Mihaylov allegedly played a key role, said BNR reporter Silvia Velikova.

In an interview with BNR, Mihaylov stated: 'What I predicted a month ago happened this morning when Radostin Vasilev (leader of the MECH party) launched an attack. Two days before the Anti-Corruption Commission took action, two people approached me and said that I had to align with the government or this would happen. I said, ‘There’s no reason it should happen.’ They said, ‘Someone will raise the issue, and we will use it to conduct searches and arrest people around you. Eventually, one of them will crack, become a protected witness and tell us what we want to hear.”

Mihaylov added that he will not give up his parliamentary immunity.