Sofia prosecutor's office is investigating an alleged money laundry channel involving the circulation of one billion euro flowing from Russia through Bulgaria and Estonia, Agence France Presse (AFP) said on January 5 2009, quoted by Bulgarian-language media.

The money that has circulated in Bulgarian banks for less than a year is assumed to have been transferred from Russia by way of fake documents and contrived business deals and later distributed to countries such as Cyprus, Dubai and Hong Kong, among others, Bulgarian daily 24 Chasa reported. Close to half a billion euro has been sent to accounts belonging to AS Tavid, a financial house in Estonia and later drained through numerous cash withdrawals.

It is not clear from where the money originated, though there is a theory that much of it comes from criminal entities in Saint Petersburg. Even the powerful Tambov gang is suspected. The latter's name is usually connected with protection rackets, drug trafficking and other illegal activities.
AFP cites prosecutors' spokeswoman Stelyana Kozhuharova as confirming the probe by underlining that it was "very confidential".

The financial scam began to unravel on May 23 2008 after Elizabeth Elena von Messing and Dmitrii Abramkin were arrested in Sofia. Von Messing is a Russian citizen holding a Finnish passport and Abramkin is said to be her representative. Both individuals are known to the authorities in Saint Petersburg.

Von Messing is the owner and manager of Optima Ca, a company registered in Sofia with an initial financial fund of 5000 leva. Its stated area of operations is real estate and financial services. The one billion euro is thought to have passed through the company's various bank accounts.

The daily 24 Chasa said that all transfers had come from Russia. Von Messing told the newspaper that the money was the company's profit for the year and that she could not understand the nature of the accusations against her. She was released on bail on December 23 2008 but prohibited from leaving Bulgaria. Abramkin remains in detention.