The former Bulgarian MP accused of espionage is elected head of the Moscow-backed group

2023-03-15 16:07:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The former Bulgarian MP accused of espionage is elected head of the

The former Bulgarian MP, accused of spying for Russia and sanctioned by Washington for corruption, has been elected chairman of the International Movement of Russophiles (MDR). This group is supported by the Russian Foreign Ministry and claims to have members from 40 countries.

Nikolai Malinov, who is also the leader of the pro-Russia lobby group in Bulgaria known as the Russophile National Movement, and is running for parliament in next month's parliamentary elections in Russia, was unanimously elected as chairman of the MDR- during the congress of this movement that was held in Moscow on March 14.

Në këtë ngjarje mori pjesë ministri i Jashtëm rus, Sergei Lavrov, zëdhënësja e Ministrisë së Jashtme ruse, Maria Zakharova, zëvendëskryetari i Dhomës së Ulët të Parlamentit rus, Konstantin Kosachev, ideologu Aleksandr Dugin dhe oligarku Konstantin Malofeyev.

Presidenti rus, Vladimir Putin, dhe patriarku rus Kirill, dërguan mesazhe urimi në këtë kongres.

Më 2019, Malinov, ish-deputet i Partisë Socialiste të Bullgarisë (BSP) u akuzua për financim dhe spiunim për dy organizata ruse dhe iu ndalua që të udhëtonte jashtë vendit.

Muajin e kaluar, Malinov u sanksionua nga Shtetet e Bashkuara dhe Britania për korrupsion së bashku edhe me shtatë politikanë të tjerë bullgarë, që kanë qenë anëtarë të Parlamentit apo kanë pasur pozita qeveritare.

The US Treasury Department said Malinov, who is banned from traveling abroad, had bribed a Bulgarian judge to allow him to go to Russia to personally accept the Friendship Medal awarded to him by Putin in 2019.

Malinov's party, the Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland and the Russophile National Movement group are under US sanctions under the Magnitsky Act, which targets human rights abusers and corruption around the world.

Although he is still accused of espionage, Malinov is currently a candidate for the April 2 election from the Neutral Bulgaria coalition, of which his group, the Russophile National Movement, is a member. It is unclear how he was allowed to travel to Moscow again, as he is under a travel ban./REL