As part of the staff reshuffles within the Ministry of Interior, four high-ranking officials from the leadership of the Burgas Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior have been removed from their posts. The officials who will no longer hold their current positions include:

  • Commissioner Asen Fortunov – Head of "Economic Police";
  • Commissioner Marin Dimitrov – "Security Police";
  • Commissioner Ivan Malinov – Head of "Criminal Police";
  • Commissioner Zlatko Peev – Head of the "Investigation" Department.

Regarding the motives for these personnel decisions, the Interior Minister stated the following: "I don't know what you mean by 'top police officers,' but I will tell you what necessitated the change. I was extremely struck by what has been happening in the Burgas police – it is absolutely intolerable for large groups of police officers to serve structures, forces, and people outside the system. As a minister, I will not allow this."

The head of the ministry was adamant that the management of the Burgas directorate must be entirely in the hands of the ministry, regardless of the influence of individuals outside the system or criminal nicknames. "This must end; in other words, everyone in the territory of Burgas, regardless of what nickname they have, must realize that the Regional Directorate in Burgas is managed by the Ministry of Interior, and in particular by the minister," he argued.

The minister issued a clear warning that the scale of the current personnel operation will encompass other regions of Bulgaria if similar corrupt practices are discovered. The ministry's ambition is to achieve a complete cleansing of its structures, relying on professionals with high moral values. "And everywhere in the country where I uncover such practices, there will be changes until there are officers with the necessary integrity and professionalism. This is what necessitated the changes," he concluded.