You're reading: RFE/RL: Bulgarian charged as Russian spy returns from Moscow with award from Putin

A former Bulgarian lawmaker who is charged with spying for Russia has returned to Sofia from Moscow where he received an award from President Vladimir Putin for his “friendship and cooperation.”

Nikolai Malinov, head of a pro-Russia lobby group in Bulgaria known as the Russophiles National Movement, arrived in Sofia on November 5 — a day after Putin gave him Russia’s Order Of Friendship award.

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