The acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior, Georgi Kandev, stated on Friday that he had faced pressure regarding his professional duties. In a video released on Facebook, Kandev recounted receiving multiple calls on Thursday, including messages urging him to “go home.” He claimed that within ten minutes, he was informed via mobile application from obscured numbers that an individual nicknamed “Kartofa,” along with associates, were providing false testimony against him at the Sofia City Prosecution Office (SCPO). Kandev alleged that this effort was orchestrated by a former official at the Ministry of the Interior named “Svetlyo.” The Secretary General questioned the validity of the testimony presented against him and sought to identify the orchestrators of the situation.
Prime Minister Andrey Gurov publicly stated that the entire caretaker government and “every honest Bulgarian citizen” support Kandev. He characterized the alleged pressure on the acting Secretary General as a “vendetta” occurring at the SCPO. Gurov also criticized Prosecutor Emilia Rusinova and linked her to Petyo Petrov, a former magistrate accused of influencing the Bulgarian judiciary.
Interior Minister Emil Dechev echoed this sentiment, asserting that “old cops” were employing tactics to undermine Kandev. Dechev expressed full confidence in the Secretary General’s integrity, noting that the Ministry and the caretaker government are committed to minimizing electoral misconduct. Opposition figures also weighed in.
Assen Vassilev criticized the threats as scandalous, advocating for judicial reform. Meanwhile, the Yes, Bulgaria party accused prosecutors of being utilized to target officials engaged in institutional reform, suggesting the use of a model linked to Boyko Borissov and Delyan Peevski.
Topics: #kandev #ministry #secretary
