March 18 (SeeNews) - Former Bulgarian prime minister Boyko Borissov was detained by the police on Thursday evening on suspicion of fraud related to EU funds, the state-run Bulgarian News Agency reported.
A large-scale law enforcement operation is underway in connection with 120 cases of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Bulgaria, the news agency reported, quoting a press release of the interior ministry.
In addition to Borissov, the authorities also said they have detained former finance minister Vladislav Goranov and former parliamentary budget committee chair Menda Stoyanova, both members of Borissov's centre-right GERB party, the biggest opposition force in parliament.
The Bulgarian prosecutor's authorities have not been notified about the investigation, the prosecutor general's spokesperson told the public television BNT.
The police operation came a day after European chief prosecutor Laura Koevesi visited Bulgaria. During her visit, Koevesi announced that the Bulgarian cabinet will be EPPO's point of contact for the country.
"Nobody is above the law," prime minister Kiril Petkov wrote in a Facebook post later on Thursday, without elaborating.
The European Commission has repeatedly criticised Bulgaria for the low level of judicial independence and the lack of effective investigation. Final convictions for high-profile cases of corruption remains low, it has said in its reports.
Borissov served as prime minister from 2009 to 2021.