Large retail chains in Bulgaria have reacted strongly to publically voiced suspicions of Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski that they were draining VAT.

In a joint declaration, issued Wednesday, they praise the PM's position that large retailers have made serious contributions to the improvement of quality of goods and services and to the advancement of Bulgarian economy.

The declaration, sent to media, stresses that large retail chains have invested in Bulgaria over BGN 4 M; provide jobs to 20 000 local workers directly and to another 10 000 through their business partners; each chain has 800 Bulgarian suppliers on average and an average 55% of all goods sold in their stores are Bulgarian-made.

The retailers' association for modern trade, however, voices firm opposition to serious accusations, voiced publically by Oresharski, implicating all international chains in tax fraud not based any solid proof and probes, but rather on general suspicions.

"The members of the association are some of the largest taxpayers in Bulgaria and they are subjected to constant checks," says the declaration.

Members of the association include "Billa Bulgaria," "K and K Electronics," "KMB Bulgaria," "Kaufland Bulgaria," and Lidl Bulgaria," among others.