Bulgaria Sees Fifth Incident of Fake Euro Banknotes Since Currency Switch

Jerusalem, 22 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- Kazanlak (BTA) A 22-year-old man has been charged with circulating counterfeit euro banknotes in commercial establishments in Kazanlak and Stara Zagora, the Bulgarian prosecutor’s office announced. Authorities said this was the fifth case of counterfeiting euro banknotes since Bulgaria began using the euro in place of the lev at the beginning of 2026.

The act was committed under the conditions of an ongoing crime in commercial establishments in the two cities in the period from January 11 to 12 this year. The man circulated two banknotes with a face value of 100 euros, which he knew were counterfeit.

During the pre-trial proceedings, numerous investigative actions were carried out – witnesses were questioned, video surveillance records were seized, two technical expert reports were prepared, an expert report on the banknotes was ordered at the Bulgarian National Bank, the prosecution said. The accused R.D. has been remanded in custody on a “guarantee” of 500 euros.

Other actions are being carried out in the investigation of the pre-trial proceedings under the supervision of the Stara Zagora District Prosecutor’s Office.

The case in Kazanlak was reported to the police by a 36-year-old man who suspected that a counterfeit 100 euro banknote had been used in a grocery store in the city. According to him, at around 1:00 a.m., two men entered the store and paid for goods of insignificant value with the banknote. Later, the store suspected that the banknote might be counterfeit.