Kornelia Ninova accused President Rumen Radev of enabling his political downfall after parliament stripped his authority to appoint the National Security Agency chief. The Rebellious Bulgaria leader wrote on Facebook that individuals Radev enriched through government positions collaborated with criminal elements to remove his oversight powers. Ninova stated she provided Radev his pathway to the presidency, but she criticized him on principle rather than forming alliances against him.
Ninova warned Radev about questionable associates on election night at the National Palace of Culture. She argued the president abandoned his principles by engaging with political operatives. Ninova called for ending manipulative political tactics, and she...
President Rumen Radev warned that security services will become tools for political manipulation after parliament transferred appointment powers from his office to the National Assembly. The changes allow lawmakers to select leaders for the State Agency Intelligence and State Agency National Security through simple majority votes on government proposals. Radev stated at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski that the services would be weaponized for election interference, theft cover-ups, and attacks against opposition figures.
The president noted that GERB proposed presidential appointment authority in 2013, but he questioned why the party reversed its position. Radev commented on the Supreme Court of Cassation ruling against Borislav...
Bulgaria's parliament stripped President Rumen Radev of his authority to appoint heads of the National Security Agency and other special units on Thursday. The ruling majority pushed through the changes, and lawmakers transferred appointment powers to the National Assembly, which will select leaders by simple majority vote. The coalition argued that security services have operated without leadership for extended periods, but opposition members warned the move could allow political interference in these agencies.
GERB leader Boyko Borisov defended the changes, stating that the security services need stable leadership during periods of global instability. PP-DB's Bozhidar Bozhanov opposed the legislation, accusing the government of...
Political scientist Kaloyan Metodiev, a member of the Executive Committee of Nepokorna Bulgaria, says President Rumen Radev faces mounting pressure to endorse Vice President Iliyana Yotova as a presidential candidate. Metodiev wrote on Facebook that supporters within the BSP and elsewhere are attempting to force Radev into backing Yotova despite his public criticism of the current government. The BSP-OL belongs to the coalition Radev has repeatedly attacked with harsh language, and the party has reduced his authority while attacking him in media outlets.
Metodiev argues that supporting Yotova would contradict Radev's stated positions and amount to endorsing government policies he opposes. He urged the president to reject the pressure...
The state prosecution stated on Wednesday that Supreme Court of Cassation rulings carry no consequences for the acting prosecutor general because the Prosecutor's College of the Supreme Judicial Council made a deliberate appointment decision. The prosecution office explained that only the Supreme Administrative Court holds the authority to overturn such determinations. Officials said the court decision harms victims in criminal cases rather than Borislav Sarafov. The prosecution noted that Sarafov's transfer of the Siyana death investigation to Sofia and the National Investigation Agency's assumption of the Sunny Beach ATV accident case now face potential challenges after the court refused to initiate proceedings on his requests.
Two Supreme Court of Cassation panels determined that Borislav Sarafov lost the acting Prosecutor General authority on July 21, and the court refused to process his procedural requests. Associate Professor Deyana Marcheva stated courts will treat Sarafov's actions as invalid because his temporal jurisdiction expired under statutory limits. Each interested party can challenge the nullity of its administrative decisions through individual proceedings, but no mechanism exists for the wholesale invalidation of prosecutorial acts issued after the deadline. Marcheva said the Supreme Judicial Council must conduct procedures to elect a permanent Prosecutor General or designate another temporary officeholder through the prosecutorial college.
Snow fell in high-mountain areas on Wednesday as rain transitioned to winter precipitation, and the Road Infrastructure Agency reported active conditions at Petrohan pass. Maintenance crews deployed snow removal equipment to clear roadways, and the agency advised motorists to use appropriate tires and drive at safe speeds, avoiding risky maneuvers. Regional departments monitor weather forecasts and stand ready to treat pavements where low temperatures create slippery conditions during early morning hours. The agency plans to begin winter maintenance across the Republican road network between November 1 and November 15, but operations may start earlier at high-altitude locations if temperatures drop permanently. Officials urged drivers...
The Supreme Court of Cassation refused to initiate proceedings on requests from acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov to reopen criminal cases through two orders issued on Wednesday. The Criminal Chamber determined that Sarafov's authority ended after a six-month period expired on July 21 under amendments to the Judicial System Act that took effect in January. The court stated requests filed after that date do not constitute valid referrals because the law prevents anyone from serving as acting prosecutor general beyond six months.
The Prosecutorial College of the Supreme Judicial Council appointed Sarafov to the temporary position in June 2023. Judges explained the new provision applies non-substantive retroactive effect to...
A two-year-old female bear rescued from the Arda river near Smolyan died despite treatment efforts, and the Ministry of Environment and Waters announced the death on social media. Specialists discovered the animal on Sept. 24 between the villages of Smilyan and Koshnitsa after a fisherman called emergency services. Veterinary examinations in Blagoevgrad revealed neck bite wounds complicated by infection and parasitic disease, but specialists found no evidence of human intervention or gunshot injuries.
The Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water in Smolyan, State Forestry officials, and the Four Paws Foundation transported the bear to treatment facilities. The animal received initial care on Sept. 25 at the Dancing Bear Park in...
