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

Bulgarian students win European competition on international law

The team of Second English Language School "Thomas Jefferson" in Sofia won the sixth edition of a European law contest for students, which was held in Romania, the Ministry of Education has reported. At the contest, students simulate a trial on cases..

published on 12/3/24 10:25 AM

Trial of Bulgarian nationals accused of spying for Russia continues in UK

The group of Bulgarians accused in the UK of spying for Russia acted against Bulgarian journalist Hristo Grozev, who works for Bellingcat. This was stated by prosecutor Alison Morgan in the court in London. The group tried to use..

published on 12/3/24 9:42 AM
Министърът на външните работи на Северна Македония Тимчо Муцунски

North Macedonian Foreign Minister expresses willingness to seek solution with Bulgaria

North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski was heard in the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee. He said that some of his fondest memories are from Bulgaria, but accused Sofia of stalling Skopje’s..

published on 12/3/24 9:16 AM