The acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior, Georgi Kandev, stated on Friday that he faced pressure regarding his work. In a Facebook video, Kandev recounted receiving calls on Thursday, including messages urging him to “go home.” He claimed that within ten minutes, he was informed via calls from hidden numbers that an individual nicknamed “Kartofa” and associates were providing false testimony against him at the Sofia City Prosecution Office (SCPO). Kandev alleged that this effort was orchestrated by a former Interior Ministry official named “Svetlyo.” During his video, the Secretary General questioned the SCPO regarding the credibility of testimony from “convicted and criminally charged individuals” and sought to identify the orchestrators behind the scenario.
Prime Minister Andrey Gurov publicly stated that the entire caretaker government and “every honest Bulgarian citizen” support Kandev. He characterized the alleged pressure as a “vendetta” occurring at the SCPO under prosecutor Emilia Rusinova. Gurov also criticized Rusinova, labeling her as “the ruler of parliamentary immunities” and a “companion” of Petyo “The Euro” Petrov, a figure associated with influencing the Bulgarian judiciary.
Interior Minister Emil Dechev supported Kandev, alleging that “old cops” were employing tactics to undermine the Secretary General. Dechev affirmed the determination of the Ministry and the caretaker government to minimize electoral crimes. Meanwhile, political figures offered their own commentary; Assen Vassilev criticized the threats as “absolutely scandalous,” while the Yes, Bulgaria party accused prosecutors of being utilized to target officials working toward institutional reform, referencing the “Borissov-Peevski model.”
Topics: #kandev #ministry #secretary
