Regional Development and Public Works Minister Assen Gagauzov is also involved in the current corruption controversy, together with Economy and Energy Minister Roumen Ovcharov, the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) said.

Bulgaria’s intelligence service detected 87 phone calls between Gagauzov and Krasimir Georgiev, owner of a company under investigation for money laundering involving the Sofia heating company, Focus news agency reported.

At the beginning of May 2007, Deputy Economy and Energy Minister Kornelia Ninova was fired. Prosecutors have accused her of inciting an investigator to delay the investigation into Georgiev’s company.

The investigator, Tatyana Sharlandzhieva, is also under investigation.

The intelligence service came across the calls while investigating the dispute between Ovcharov and National Investigation Service head Angel Alexandrov. Alexandrov is accused of soliciting bribes, while he says that Ovcharov threatened him.

Both Angelov and Ovcharov are currently on compulsory leave.