Bulgaria

Two police officers who went snooping around and taking photos of the house of the Lyaskovest shooter Petko Petkov, spoiled the police operation for his disarming. 

The total hourly labor cost in Q4 2013 has risen by 4.3% compared to Q4 2012, according to the preliminary data of Bulgaria's National Statistical Institute.

The total hourly labor cost grew by 4.4% in industry and by 4.8% in services. In construction the total hourly labor costs rose by 4.2%.

Bulgaria's energy watchdog DKEVR has launched a procedure to suspend the license of power distributors in the country.

The State Commission for Water and Energy Regulation (what the abbreviation "DKEVR" stands for) is to terminate permits of EVN Bulgaria, CEZ Electro Bulgaria and Energo-PRO, officials have announced, citing "threats to energy security" as a reason.

The Bulgarian Greens party (Zelenite) has cautioned that the government is about to stifle organic farming by depriving the segment of subsidies for 2014.

The party issued Wednesday an official declaration, vowing to fight the damaging steps through

Bulgaria's Pazadrzhik regional court found all 13 imams guilty of propagating anti-democratic ideology. 

Bulgaria's Government approved the preparations for issuing state bonds at the international stock market, said the Government press office. 

The Government authorized Finance Minister Petar Chobanov to negotiate with the selected managing banks and the legal consultants, as well as to sign on behalf of the state all necessary documents. 

E-Government in Bulgaria might be complete before 2020, Transport Minister Danail Papazov announced Wednesday.

Papazov, who is also in charge of the information technologies sector, considers it possible that Bulgaria reaches a "medium level" compared to EU countries in terms of electronic governance.

The delayed monthly financial aid for refugees will be paid by Friday, Vasil Danov of Bulgaria's State Agency for Refugees confirmed.

The February payments of BGN 65 have been delayed by the Financial Ministry and the Interior Ministry, Danov told Darik news.

Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetlin Yovchev has backed the proposal of Drug Enforcement Administration deputy chief Thomas Harrigan to discuss creating special joint teams.

Harrigan and Yovchev met Wednesday as part of a working visit of the Bulgarian delegation to the US, according to the press office of the Interior Ministry.

EVN has requested that renewable energy plants connected to its power grid in Bulgaria dwindle production capacities by 60%.

The decision will be in force on Wednesday. It is unknown whether it is related to a dispute between the state electricity company and power distributors in Bulgaria.