Bulgarian Ex-Prime Minister Petkov Charged with Abuse of Power

sofia - Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov has been charged with abuse of power for ordering the arrest of his predecessor Bojko Borisov and two of Borisov's political allies in a corruption investigation involving EU funds.

Petkov allegedly exceeded his legal authority by ordering the arrests in March 2022. Borisov and the other two individuals were released without charges after a day due to procedural errors and lack of evidence, according to the prosecutors at the time.

Bulgaria has been flagged as one of the most corrupt countries in the EU by transparency watchdogs. In 2020, widespread protests erupted against corruption in Borisov's government. Petkov, who won the 2021 elections on an anti-corruption platform, has been struggling to form a stable government, leading to political turmoil in the country. Borisov's party emerged as the winner in the latest elections in October, but coalition talks remain inconclusive.