The Bulgarian opposition demands removal of CEO of Bulgartransgaz

The European Public Prosecutor's Office has not asked the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior to monitor whether Vladimir Malinov, the CEO of Bulgartransgaz, "will disappear". The Ministry is taking action on the instructions of the prosecutor's office, but "so far there are no such signs", according to Interior Minister Daniel Mitov. He stated this during a parliamentary hearing on his ministry’s actions in connection with the European Public Prosecutor's Office's investigation against the former caretaker minister and current director of Bulgartransgaz.

Lena Borislavova (PP-DB) initiated the hearing in the National Assembly. The Minister of Energy, Zhecho Stankov, and Valentin Nikolov, the executive member of the Board of Directors of Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD, also spoke on the topic in parliament.

Only the opposition parties, PP-DB, Vazrazhdane and MECH had questions on the topic. We recall that a few days ago, Malinov did not appear at the Bulgarian office of the European Public Prosecutor's Office after the summons was sent to him as a defendant in the Chiren case.

Zhecho Stankov explained that Bulgartransgaz has provided full access to information and documents relevant to the ongoing pre-trial proceedings.

Assistance was provided to clarify the circumstances relevant to the subject of the inspection."

When asked why, despite the accusations, Malinov was returned to the helm of Bulgartransgaz, the Minister of Energy defended himself by saying that he had no authority to appoint executives and did not give a specific answer as to what Malinov's future would be regarding the state-owned company.

In public energy enterprises, whose sole owner is the Bulgarian Energy Holding, especially those with a two-tier form of management, such as Bulgartransgaz and the Electricity System Operator (ESO), the election of members of the Management Board is carried out through a competition, which is outside the powers of the Minister of Energy," said Stankov.

He explained that, according to articles of the Public Enterprises Act and the rules for its implementation, a Management Board with a two-tier management system is elected by the Supervisory Board of the relevant enterprise after conducting a public procedure according to the procedure specified therein, and this is the case with Bulgartransgaz.  

Translated by Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov