Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev has filed a report asking the National Revenue Agency (NRA) to investigate the expenses of a parliamentary group chairman. According to Interior Ministry data, the case involves 5 million euros paid through 36 invoices.

The trigger was a statement posted Friday on the political party's website. There, Delyan Peevski answered a question about who had paid for his flights: "My family and I! I'm saying it clearly — I have documents for everything. My family and I paid for my flights."

Demerdzhiev is asking the NRA to determine the exact amount paid for the flights and related expenses, as well as the period over which the payments were made. He also expects the agency to establish where the money for the flights came from and what income the lawmaker declared for the relevant tax periods.

In his report, he insists that the declared assets and income be compared with the actual expenses incurred. Demerdzhiev wants answers to two questions. First, whether these sums constitute income that must be declared and taxed under the Personal Income Tax Act. Second, whether the payments were made personally by the lawmaker or by a third party.

The Interior Ministry explained the purpose of the inquiry. It is meant to show the actual amount spent on flights and where the money came from. The check will also determine whether the sums match the income and assets declared for the tax periods in question.