SANS to check who owns the Russian Church in Sofia

The Sofia City Prosecutor's Office has commissioned the State Agency for National Security to investigate two reports about the ownership of the St. Nicholas church in Sofia, the head of the city prosecutor's office Iliana Kirilova and her deputy Hristo Krastev announced at a briefing.

"The check will look into facts and circumstances regarding the ownership and the right to use the land and the building of the Orthodox church," Hristo Krastev said.

According to the prosecution, the case has two aspects – the first is the right to property as a civil right and the second concerns the canons of the church or canon law. Another aspect of the case is that if a crime committed by a person with diplomatic status was found, no criminal proceedings could be initiated against them.

The prosecutor's office also said they would demand to see the SANS report that led to the expulsion of three priests from the Russian Church on suspicion of espionage for Moscow.

• Political and ecclesiastical interests are behind the turmoil with the Russian Church in Sofia