The developments unfold despite the fact that two of the three current deputy prime ministers worked at the Open Society Foundation, founded by George Soros. The Bulgarian parliament has set up a temporary commission to investigate the activities of George Soros, his son Alexander, and their foundations operating in the country. The probe will look into the financing of Bulgarian individuals, companies and NGOs, and possible links between the Soros network and political, judicial, media and educational structures.
The motion was approved with the votes of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) – whose leader, Delyan Peevski, is sanctioned for corruption by both the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as the pro-Russian nationalists from Vazrazhdane, the Socialist Party (BSP), There Is Such a People (ITN), and the populists from MECH and Velichie. BSP and ITN are part of the governing coalition with GERB, while MRF provides parliamentary support to the government. GERB lawmakers either abstained or voted against the creation of the commission.
The new parliamentary body will operate for three months. It will review documentation, hear representatives of security services and other institutions, and summon individuals and legal entities who may clarify the scope of Soros-related activities in Bulgaria.
The initiative came from the MRF, whose leader Peevski frequently attacks Soros and what he calls “the Sorosoids”. He claims that they tried to block Bulgaria’s access to €6 billion under the EU Recovery and Resilience Plan, accusing them of spreading “disinformation and censorship” and of manipulating public opinion through “dependent media for nearly three decades”.
Thе move happens despite the fact that two of the three deputy prime ministers in the current government – Tomislav Donchev from GERB and Grozdan Karadjov from ITN, worked at the Open Society Foundation, founded by George Soros.
According to the explanatory memorandum tabled in parliament, information available through the “Open Society Institute – Sofia” points to “a network of interconnected individuals” who, beyond the NGO sector, have allegedly been “infiltrated into the administration, educational institutions, political parties, the judiciary, media, business structures and state bodies.” The document claims that this creates conditions “for both overt and covert influence over Bulgaria’s political, social and economic processes” and that the goal is the “complete subordination of Bulgarian institutions, education, the economy and society.”
MRF MPs argue that the Soros foundations have “a highly negative influence internationally and within the United States,” citing statements by former U.S. president Donald Trump, who in August called for the indictment of George and Alexander Soros, labelling them “lunatics” and “psychopaths.”
“The existence of such networks and influence on Bulgarian territory casts doubt on the independence of numerous institutions and processes and requires an urgent, in-depth review,” the MRF stated. The party insists that the commission is “a necessary instrument to clarify all circumstances surrounding the activity of George and Alexander Soros and to ensure that the interests and sovereignty of Bulgarian citizens are not compromised by external interference.” British embassy rebuts Borissov over Peevski sanctions
While the parliamentary inquiry sparked controversy, another political subplot unfolded in Sofia. The British embassy publicly refuted claims by GERB leader Boyko Borissov that he had personally negotiated with former UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron to lift British sanctions against Peevski.(Cameron served as Foreign Secretary in the government of prime minister Rishi Sunak from 2023 to 2024.)
In an official statement to the media, the embassy said: “The procedure for seeking the lifting of sanctions does not involve negotiations between governments.”
Further, the Embassy states: “Information on how to request a lifting of sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom is publicly available on gov.uk. No such request has been submitted on behalf of any Bulgarian national included in the UK Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions list. The purpose of the regime is to prevent and respond to serious cases of corruption. The sanctions remain in place.”
Earlier the same day, Borissov had told reporters: “I personally negotiated with the foreign minister, with David Cameron when he was here, for the sanctions to be lifted.” His remarks came after the “Yes, Bulgaria” party released correspondence allegedly showing former Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel had communicated with the British government about Peevski’s case.
Background on Peevski’s sanctions
Peevski was sanctioned by the United States under the Global Magnitsky Act on 2 June 2021. The U.S. Treasury described him as “an oligarch who has regularly engaged in corruption, using influence peddling and bribes to protect himself from public scrutiny and exert control over key institutions and sectors in Bulgarian society”.
In February 2023, the UK government followed suit, sanctioning Peevski for corruption and stating that he had used he “has been involved in attempts to exert control over key institutions and sectors in Bulgarian society through bribery and use of his media empire”.
Despite these allegations, the Bulgarian prosecution has never brought corruption charges against him.