Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov has ordered a team of twelve prosecutors to probe the latest wiretap scandal in the country.

It was reported initially that ten prosecutors will probe the case, but on Friday Tsatsarov has increased the number to twelve.

The prosecutors have already started work at the Interior Ministry, which has announced full cooperation, including from employees of the Specialized Directorate Technical Operations, SDOTO.

The information was reported Sunday by Sofia City Prosecutor, Nikolay Kokinov, speaking for the Bulgarian National Radio.

He stressed all 12 colleagues were nonpartisan.

The prosecutors will also seek assistance from professional experts outside the system of the Interior Ministry in order to have independent consultants and opinions. These experts will help with the technical parameters of the probe.

The investigation resulted from a tipoff sent to Tsatsarov by Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Sergey Stanishev.

On Thursday, Stanishev said he was in shock after receiving earlier in the week via email the said tipoff, alleging mass spying on the part of the Interior Ministry under the rule of the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, and its Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, ever since they took office in 2009.

According to this information, the eavesdropping had been done without a warrant by a judge, as the law postulates.

According to the tipoff, the list of wiretapped people includes former President, Georgi Parvanov, current President, Rosen Plevneliev, right-wing leader and former PM, Ivan Kostov, honorary ethnic Turkish leader, Ahmed Dogan, nationalist leader, Volen Siderov, former Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, EU Commissioner, Kristalina Georgieva, when on visits to Bulgaria, Tsvetelina Borislavova - banker and ex-girlfriend of former PM, Boyko Borisov, businessmen Ivo Prokopiev, Grisha Ganchev, Georgi Gergov, and a number of magistrates, among others.

Tsvetanov firmly rejects the accusations, labeling them slander and black PR.

Stanishev further said "Tsatsarov has been impressed by the details in the tipoff," which has prompted him to launch the probe.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!