The European Parliament has launched a procedure at the request of the Belgian authorities of to lift the immunity of five MEPs, including former Bulgarian National Assembly Speaker Nikola Minchev from the “Renew Europe” group, BTA reported. The request is related to an investigation into suspicions of corruption. The Belgian authorities are checking data that the Chinese company Huawei has provided gifts to MEPs in order to secure influence.

MEP Nikola Minchev told BNR’s correspondent Angelina Piskova that he himself would ask the European Parliament to lift his immunity. He was caught up in the scandal due to his attendance at a football match, where he was taken to the VIP box of the Chinese company by his former assistant Adam Mukhtar, who is currently under investigation for ties to the company. Minchev was assured by Mukhtar that the two had been invited by the assistant’s friend and neighbor whose child was having a birthday.

 "I have nothing to do with any illegal activity of these people, nor anything to worry about", MEP Minchev said, as quoted by BTA.

Published and translated by Kostadin Atanasov

Photo: BTA