Bulgarians welcome U.S. graft sanctions, EU nods approval

FILE PHOTO: Protesters cast their shadows on a Bulgarian flag as they shout anti-government slogans during a demonstration in central Sofia June 19, 2013. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

BRUSSELS/SOFIA (Reuters) -Leading Bulgarian politicians welcomed U.S. sanctions on three Bulgarians and 64 companies linked to them over alleged corruption on Thursday, while the European Union signalled its approval by saying it would not impose countermeasures.

The U.S. Treasury Department said on Wednesday the sanctions were its single biggest action against graft to date, and also targeted plans to create a conduit for Russian political leaders to influence the Bulgarian government.