Caretaker government replaced the head of the State Intelligence Agency (update)

The caretaker government dismissed the head of the State Intelligence Agency, Atanas Atanasov (on the picure), and proposed that he be replaced by Antoan Gechev. This was announced at an extraordinary briefing by the spokesperson of the Council of Ministers Anton Kutev on June 16.

Here are the reasons:

"In the context of the need to ensure the sustainability of the national security protection system of the Republic of Bulgaria under the leadership of Atanas Atanasov, the State Intelligence Agency has carried out its activities in violation of the presumption of objectivity, impartiality and political neutrality. Under the law on the Intelligence Agency, it should provide the same volume and content of information to the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Prime Minister. There is a violation of this principle with regard to intelligence information provided to the President," said Anton Kutev.

Later, Atanasov told reporters that the main reason for his removal from the post was external interference, as well as coordinated actions with a well-known businessman with many charges against him. He described the head of state's decrees as "the grayest zone in law" because they are not subject to control, Atanasov said.

"The presidential powers completely overlap with those of the caretaker cabinet, personally elected by him, as a result of which we can safely say that there are a number of examples, including the Constitution being violated. If anyone of you wish, as I am unfortunately not a lawyer, can check the issuance of decrees related to the Central Election Commission, to terminate the work of Parliament and everything else," Atanasov said.

The caretaker government conducted more reshufflings at the top of the security services.

Following the dismisssal of Nedyalko Nedyalkov as the Deputy Head of the State Agency for National Security (SANS) on May 28, the caretaker cabinet today nominated Stanislav Stanchev for the post, to replace Nedyalkov.

"By decision 434 of the Council of Ministers of 28 May, 2021, Nedyalko Nedyalkov was dismissed as Deputy Chairman of SANS. In this regard, with a letter dated 15 June, 2021, a proposal was received from the Chairman of SANS to appoint Stanislav Stanchev as Deputy Chairman of SANS, who will complete the started term of office," Kutev pointed out and added that Nedyalkov's term of office ends on 25 July, 2023.