/ world today news/ Despite his limited mandate, acting military minister Stefan Yanev undertook a total purge in the ministry, and it even reached the chief of defense.
These are the next personnel reshuffles carried out by the “Gerdzhikov” cabinet, whose task is supposedly only to prepare the elections. However, dozens of senior officials have been replaced so far.
On Monday, at a meeting of the Defense Council, a decision was made to replace Vice Admiral Emil Evtimov. His place will be taken by the current commander of the Ground Forces, Gen. Andrey Botsev, , reports in tomorrow’s issue of Sega, citing sources from the Ministry of Defense. The proposal to replace the defense chief is expected to be tabled as an additional item at the government meeting on Wednesday. Eftimov was appointed on January 19. Until then, he was the deputy of the resigned gen. Konstantin Popov. The vice admiral is acting and has a mandate of up to 1 year. The idea of the former rulers was that the next regular government should decide whether to leave him or nominate a new person for the post. Military experts saw the intervention of President Rumen Radev behind the cast, as Gen. Botsev is considered close to the head of state.
In practice, after the decree is issued, the next government will have to work with the new defense chief and will not be able to replace him. According to conspiracy theories, the change is also likely to lead to a change in priorities for the modernization of the army. As the infantry commander, Gen. Botsev repeatedly insisted on the purchase of armored vehicles for the motorized riflemen. The project is ready and is expected to cost up to BGN 1 billion. Its working version provides for the purchase of 238 armored combat vehicles. Two Western companies have already appeared in Bulgaria and are ready to participate in the competition.
In addition to the change of the chief, according to MoD sources, changes have begun in key directorates and agencies in the department. We are talking about structures through which the main assets of the army pass. The military budget increases every year due to modernization projects. This year it is expected to be over BGN 1 billion.
The head of the commercial company “Supply and Trade” Valentin Simeonov has been replaced, the press center of the Ministry of Defense announced. The new director is Alexander Petkov. This is the most attractive post in the Ministry of Defense, since the purchase and sale of military equipment and armaments takes place from there. The company also has a license to trade in dual-use goods.
The head of the “Military clubs and military leave” agency, Petar Manolov, was also released. Maria Moskova is already acting temporarily. The agency is responsible for the army’s rest homes, hotels, military clubs, kindergartens in the country and various social programs. Tens of millions of BGN orders also pass through it. Rokadi is also available in the Information Center of the Ministry of Defense. In place of journalist Vladislav Prelezov, former military reporter Evgeni Genov was appointed. The center is responsible for the “Bulgarian Army” and the Military TV Channel.
Rokadi is also in the management of the Terem holding, which is responsible for the ministry’s military repair plants. The department’s press center confirmed that the executive director Ognyan Chalakov and the head of the board Hristin Petkov have been replaced. They will be replaced by Hristo Bogdanov and Stancho Petkov. Personnel changes are also expected at the individual plants.
The Ministry will have a new organizational regulation, which provides for the re-establishment of two key directorates – “Defense Acquisition” and “Defense Infrastructure”. Just half a year ago, they were united in the “Defense Acquisition” megastructure. All defense orders passed through it, including modernization projects.
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