Prosecutor Intimidated for Investigating Bulgaria's Ex Agri Min - Report

A prosecutor monitoring the investigation on former Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture Miroslav Naydenov has been told to withdraw for his own safety, reports major Bulgarian Kapital Daily.

The unnamed prosecutor was been told to "back off, lest something bad happens" to him, writes Kapital.

Wednesday Bulgaria's prosecution in effect confirmed the question asked by the Bulgarian Socialist Party whether there are any proceedings against Naydenov, writes the paper.

The prosecution has stated that there is an ongoing investigation related to a public procurement for delivery of foods for the poor, made by the Agriculture Ministry under Naydenov.

According to Kapital's sources, which the paper describes as highly reliable, the former minister has learned that he is surveilled, and has disposed of his phones.

The investigation has started on signals by former officers for Bulgaria's State Agriculture Fund, but has been hampered by inconsistent testimony, writes the paper.

Miroslav Naydenov served as Minister of Agriculture and Foods in the cabinet of former Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov since Borisov's GERB party came to power in July 2009, and until Borisov's resignation in February.

Monday the Bulgarian Socialist Party filed a list of 21 signals with Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov, some of which have to do with alleged abuse of power by Naydenov.