Bulgaria freezes EU aid to town over suspected fraud

(SOFIA) - Bulgaria has suspended 30 million euros in EU aid to the southeastern town of Sliven over possible fraud in the use of funds earmarked for environmental protection and regional development, officials said Wednesday.

"Funds with a total value of 60 million leva (30 million euros, $42 million) have been suspended since August while probing possible irregularities," a spokeswoman for EU Fund Management Minister Tomislav Donchev told AFP.

"This is a preventive move on the part of the Bulgarian government," she said.

Sliven is led by mayor and ex-football legend Yordan Lechkov, who is seeking re-election to a third term on October 23.

Sliven municipal councillors have complained about the lack of competition in municipal tenders for projects.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said he himself ordered the EU aid frozen but stressed that he still backed Lechkov's re-election bid.

Lechkov, 43, has been mayor since 2003, during which time he has also been embroiled in a series of corruption scandals.

A football legend in Bulgaria who was part of the national team which finished fourth in the 1994 World Cup in the United States, he was even dragged to court on charges of abuse of power but was cleared in March.

The Bulgarian government has taken great care in overseeing the proper use of EU funds after millions of euros in aid to the country were frozen in 2008 and subsequently cut.