EditBulgarian court acquits Russophile leader in Russian espionage case
Nikolay Malinov cleared of spying charges after years-long trial that became one of Bulgaria’s most politically sensitive Russia-linked cases
A Bulgarian court has acquitted Nikolay Malinov, leader of the pro-Russian “Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland” party, in a high-profile espionage case that prosecutors once described as evidence of Russian influence operations inside Bulgaria.
The ruling, delivered by the Sofia City Court, clears Malinov of all charges related to alleged espionage activities on behalf of Russian organisations linked to former KGB general Leonid Reshetnikov. The decision is not final and can still be appealed before a higher court.
The case, launched in 2019 and formally opened before the now-defunct Specialised Criminal Court in 2021, was widely viewed as one of the most important tests of Bulgaria’s willingness to confront alleged Kremlin influence networks operating inside the country.
Prosecutors accused Malinov of placing himself “in service of a foreign organisation in order to serve as a spy” and of attempting to obtain and disclose classified information connected to Bulgaria’s national security.
Malinov consistently denied the accusations, insisting the case was politically motivated and arguing he had no access to classified information.
According to the prosecution, Malinov worked closely with the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies (RISS) and the “Double-Headed Eagle” organisation, both associated with Reshetnikov, a former senior Russian intelligence figure considered close to the Kremlin.
Investigators alleged that Malinov accepted assignments and financial compensation in exchange for activities aimed at influencing Bulgaria’s domestic and geopolitical orientation. Prosecutors also cited an internal memorandum allegedly written by Malinov in Russian, which referred to the “necessary geopolitical reorientation of Bulgaria”.
One of the central accusations concerned alleged attempts to obtain information related to the protection of Bulgarian airspace in the event of problems with the repair of MiG-29 fighter jet engines by a Polish company.
The court also cleared Malinov of a separate charge alleging he disclosed information that could help identify individuals cooperating with Bulgarian intelligence services and officers from the State Intelligence Agency (DAR).
The case gained international attention shortly after Malinov’s arrest in 2019, when Specialised Court judge Andon Mitalov allowed him to travel to Russia despite the ongoing investigation. During the visit, Malinov received a state decoration personally from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The decision triggered strong criticism from Washington. The U.S. later imposed sanctions on judge Mitalov and his family under anti-corruption measures and barred them from entering the country. Bulgaria’s justice minister at the time sought his dismissal, but the move ultimately failed.
Even while facing espionage charges, Malinov remained politically and publicly active in Russia-linked organisations.
In March this year, he visited Moscow for a week-long trip during which he met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
According to the website of the Russophiles movement, Malinov also participated in Moscow in April in an international conference dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the 1876 April Uprising. He attended the event in his capacity as secretary-general of the International Russophile Movement and honorary chairman of the Russophiles party.
The International Russophile Movement itself became the target of EU sanctions last December.
In its sanctions decision, the EU described the organisation as a structure “responsible for amplifying destabilising narratives globally on behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation”. Brussels also said the movement maintained close ties with the Russian foreign ministry and figures associated with Kremlin ideological and media influence operations, including Aleksandr Dugin and oligarch Konstantin Malofeev.
According to the EU, the organisation served as a platform for promoting anti-Western narratives and spreading Russian information influence campaigns abroad.
The acquittal comes at a politically sensitive moment in Bulgaria, where debates over Russian influence, disinformation and the country’s geopolitical orientation continue to shape domestic politics.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Bulgarian authorities have expelled dozens of Russian diplomats and intelligence-linked officials, while several investigations involving alleged Russian espionage networks have been launched. At the same time, pro-Russian political forces continue to retain influence in parts of Bulgarian society and politics.
The court’s written motives are still pending and are expected to provide the first detailed judicial explanation of why the evidence presented by prosecutors failed to secure a conviction.
Until then, one of Bulgaria’s most closely watched Russia-related trials remains legally unresolved.
Caption: Nikolay Malinov with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. October 2022. / Rusofili.bg
Updated: May 15, 2026 - 15:22
