Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria can claim ownership of Russian church in Sofia through the courts, acting Prosecutor General says

Photo: БГНЕС

Acting Prosecutor-General Borislav Sarafov has suggested to Regional Development Minister Andrey Tsekov that he file a lawsuit over the ownership of the Church of St Nicholas the Wonderworker in Sofia, widely known as the Russian Church, in order to have it recognised as the property of the Bulgarian state. 
A deed dated 23.07.1997 declared the Orthodox temple and the land on which it was built to be the property of the Russian Embassy. This deed was issued at the request of the Russian Ambassador on the basis of a deed of donation dated 7 November 1898 for "a vacant urban plot in the city of St. Nicholas" by the Sofia City Council. Sofia" by the Sofia Municipality to the Russian Imperial Diplomatic Agency in Bulgaria. However, an investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office has uncovered facts that can be used to refute this ownership. These include bilateral documents from 1940 between Bulgaria and the USSR on the free use of the church building by the Bulgarian state.

The Russian church in Sofia came into the public spotlight after three priests from the temple were expelled from Bulgaria in September, accused of spying for Moscow.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Kamelia Neykova

CEC sends CCTV footage from polling stations to prosecutors 

The Central Election Commission (CEC) is sending the prosecutor the video recordings of the ballot count in 7 polling stations where there is a discrepancy in the number of votes counted.  The prosecutors will have to check whether there is..

published on 11/5/24 4:19 PM
Екатерина Захариева

Bulgarian Ekaterina Zaharieva is the EU commissioner for start-ups, research and innovation

The European Parliament has approved the nomination of Bulgarian Ekaterina Zaharieva as European Commissioner. She will be in charge of the 'Start-ups, Research and Innovation' portfolio.  After her confirmation hearing in the European Parliament,..

published on 11/5/24 4:03 PM

Bulgaria and Romania to discuss full Schengen membership with Austria in Budapest 

A meeting of the interior ministers of Bulgaria, Romania and Austria in Budapest could lead to a change in Austria's stance on the two countries joining the Schengen area. This is reported in the Austrian media.  The meeting will take place on 22..

published on 11/5/24 3:42 PM