SOFIA (BGM) – A serious financial problem has arisen in past few weeks with the repair of some of the Bulgarian Air Force equipment, learned BulgarianMilitary.com.

In november 2018, a contract was signed for major overhaul of fourteen Su-25s from the Bulgarian Air Force by the 558th Aviation Repair Plant in Baranavichy (Belarus). The overhaul contract is worth USD 85,5 million (73,6 million Euro’s) exluding VAT.

Read more: Bulgaria’s Government Approves BGN 82.51 Million to Repair the Su-25s

In December 2018, an amount of USD 45,7 million (41 million Euro’s) was transferred by the Bulgarian Ministery of Defense but this money did not reach Belarus. Deputy Minister of Defense of Bulgaria Anatoly Valichkov said: “The Ministery of Defense paid the funds in December, but they were returned because of the policy of the correspondent bank that was supposed to make the transfer”.

Read more: Bulgaria is about to Conclude the Deal for the Su-25 Overhaul with the Belarus’ “558 ARP”

In February 2019, the European Union (EU) extended the embargo for the year on the supply of weapons and means to Belarus which can be used for internal repression. Banks are quite scrupulous about issues that are associated with sanctions and restrictions. According the Bulgarian MoD this case has nothing to do with violation of sanctions and or restrictions because this is temporarily exported. At the moment this issue is beïng worked out at the level of foreign ministeries.

Read more: Bulgaria and the U.S. Can’t Agree On the F-16 Price. Possible Negotiations for the Swedish Gripen

For several months The 558th Aviation Repair Plant in Baranivichy is ready to start the major overhaul on the Bulgarian Su-25s but are waiting on the transfer of the money.

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BulgarianMilitary.com

Translator editor: Monika Evgenieva

Source: Pan.bg, Scramble Magazine