Bulgaria: Revenu Agency Finds 116 Violations in First 11 Days of Euro Circulation
The National Revenue Agency (NRA) has continued monitoring commercial establishments and service providers across Bulgaria following the country’s switch to the euro
The Director of the Bulgarian Customs Agency, Vanyo Tanov, announced the Head of the Svilengrad Customs, gets to keep his job, despite the personal request of Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov. Photo by BGNES
The Director of the Customs in the Southern city of Svilengrad, Stefan Marashev, would not face legal proceedings, the Director of the Bulgarian Customs Agency, Vanyo Tanov, said.
In a Wednesday interview for the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, Tanov explained the preliminary probe failed to collect any evidence in order to press legal charges, adding a State servant can be dismissed against his or her will only if there is proof of criminal breaking of rules, otherwise the Court would reinstate the said individual in one to two months.
Marashev was already fired once, in 2008, from the post of Head of the Svilengrad Customs, but was reinstated by the Supreme Administrative Court. The reason for the ousting at the time was that he, allegedly, refunded an excise duty in the amount of BGN 10 M without having the right to do so.
Tanov said he had asked the National Revenue Agency to audit Marashev to see if the value of his property corresponds to his declared income.
While Simidchiev resigned the very next day, and already has an appointed replacement, Marashev refused to comply prompting the Customs Agency to start proceedings against him.
The vacation village Stavri Dimovo, on the banks of the Ivaylovgrad dam, is better known by its nickname – The Customs Agents Village over the luxury mansion properties belonging to people from Sofia and the southeastern border town of Svilengrad, who are mostly senior civil servants such as Customs agents, traffic cops as well as businessmen.
“Euro” has been named the most emblematic word in Bulgaria for 2025, according to the latest survey by the popular language platform “Kak se pishe” (“How to spell?”)
Bulgaria has formally submitted its candidacy for UNESCO recognition of its yogurt, joining Romania and Turkey in the initiative. The evaluation process is already underway, with an assessment of Bulgaria’s application expected this autumn.
Bulgaria will face another day of severe winter conditions on Monday, January 19, with persistently low temperatures across the country and hazardous cold prompting a yellow weather warning nationwide.
Despite Sofia being considerably cheaper than major European capitals overall, certain everyday items cost more in the Bulgarian capital than in cities like London and Berlin. Milk stands out as a notable example.
The Administrative Court has annulled the municipal rules that prohibited the consumption of alcohol in public outdoor spaces in Ruse, following an appeal filed by Regional Governor Dragomir Draganov.
Metro services between the Slivnitsa and Obelya stations will be halted for six months, Sofia Municipality has announced, due to construction works linked to the expansion of the metro network in the Obelya district.
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