The Sofia City Prosecution announced yesterday that foreign investigators had managed to trace the passage of classified information through the Bulgarian satellite communication system. This summer, former foreign minister Solomon Passi was questioned over the creation of a satellite network between the foreign ministry and Bulgarian embassies abroad. The case gained momentum after allegations of espionage attempts and the passage of classified information arose. Currently, the prosecution is preparing a case against unidentified ministry personnel responsible for the transmission of classified information.
According to experts the data confirms two such cases on the territory of Bulgaria and Greece. Between 2004 and April 2005 officials did not follow regulations for the protection of classified information. Passi and former finance minister Milen Velchev have already been questioned about the creation of the communication network, Trud newspaper reported.
Passi commented that the charges against him were a part of a political process. The prosecution uses these charges at key political moments, such as the nomination of Milen Velchev as candidate for Sofia mayor, Passi said.