Bulgaria's Specialised Anti-Corruption Unit Enters into Operation

Bulgaria's Specialised Anti-Corruption Unit, which will tackle corruption among high level officials, entered into operation on Monday.

The specialised unit will be under the direct authority of Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov, daily Dnevnik reports.

The specialised unit was established after the latest in a series of agreements between the prosecutor's office, the State Agency for National Security (DANS) and the Interior Ministry.

The government opted for the specialised unit, which has been supported by Tsatsarov, rather than the proposal of Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov for a new and independent body.

The unit, which bears the name Specialised Anti-Corruption Unit, will employ 50 people - prosecutors, agents and investigating policemen.

It will be part of Sofia City Prosecutor's Office, but it will be housed in the building of DANS.

The management and control of the unit will be exercised by a deputy of the Chief Prosecutor, which will be determined by Tsatsarov himself.

The deputy of the chief prosecutor will work in close cooperation with the director of the Counteracting Corruption directorate of DANS.

The strategy on tackling corruption, which was presented on Friday, also foresees the establishment of another body that will monitor the integrity of high level government officials.

It will unite the Commission for Prevention and Ascertainment of Conflict of Interest, the Center for Prevention and Countering Corruption and Organised Crime (BORKOR) and departments of the National Audit Office.