Officials from Bulgaria's former intelligence services vehemently criticized the bill on secret files opening, currently in the making.

Members of the Association of Former Intelligence Agents, claim the new legislation aims not to throw light on murky corners of Bulgaria's communist past, but replace the political elite.

"If opened, the files will spring a mine on many people from the ruling three-party coalition," said the officers of the reserve.

"Even now there are people, working in Bulgarian services abroad, who influence the political decisions," they said, adding that the Bulgarian society will benefit nothing from the complete release of the files.

They claim that more than BGN 30 B has been transferred abroad after the closure of the services in the 90s.

The debate over whether the secret past of ambassadors and special services chiefs should be made public turned into a stumbling block for the vote of the bill in parliament last week.

Proponents of the complete release of the secret files say this will in no way threaten the national security. Critics claim ambassadors are not a rare tool for gathering sensitive information and a complete release of the files will unjustly discredit them.

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