On Wednesday (02/06/2021), the US government announced economic sanctions against three Bulgarian nationals and their business network for their alleged links to corruption.
Among those who have been sanctioned, the oligarch Vasyl Bozkov, one of the richest people in Bulgaria who is accused by the US Treasury of trying to create a channel for Russian political leaders to influence the Bulgarian government, stands out.
Bozkov currently lives in Dubai and is a fugitive from Bulgaria, where he is accused of tax crimes and corruption.
The other two people the Treasury has imposed on their sanctions are businessman and former parliamentarian Dilian Bevsky and official Elko Chelyazkov, who, according to the United States, are responsible for paying bribes.
The Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on 64 companies belonging to Bozkov and Bevsky.
According to the US, this Wednesday is “the largest action directed against corruption to date” and argued that it “demonstrates the ongoing efforts of the Treasury to hold those involved in corruption to account.”
Treasury economic sanctions prohibit affected individuals and companies from accessing the U.S. financial system, freeze any assets they may have in the United States, and prevent Americans from doing business with them.
In parallel with the sanctions of the Treasury, the Foreign Ministry blacklisted Pevsky and Jeliazkov, as well as fellow officials Alexander Manulev, Petar Haralambiev and Krasimir Tomov, on corruption charges.
These people, as well as their immediate relatives, are now banned from entering the United States.
Although it is common for the United States to impose sanctions on foreigners, officials, companies and entities around the world, it is not uncommon for the person affected to be a member of the European Union, Washington’s main ally. (efe)
