The European Commission and justice commissioner Franco Frattini are following developments in Sofia central heating provider Toplofikatsia fund diversion investigation and the newest corruption controversy that hit Bulgaria.

Frattini’s spokesperson Frizo Roskam Abing confirmed the information and said that EC hoped that Bulgaria will continue fighting corruption.

Interest in such major cases was understandable, the spokesperson said. Bulgarian institutions reported every other week on major developments and cases in the country.

EC would refrain from commenting on such cases because it trusted the country and its judiciary, the statement said. Prosecutor-General Boris Velchev carried out justice reforms carefully and without doubt, the report said.

On May 2 Bulgartabac Holding executive manager Hristo Lachev said that the head of the national investigation asked him for a bribe. The controversy also involves the name of Economy and Energy Minister Roumen Ovcharov.

Representatives of the investigation said that both cases were gaining political dimension and both political and economic interests were the reasons for the two scandals.