site.btaCC Leader Vassilev: Government's Nominee for Lukoil Neftochim Administrator Is Rather Bad Joke

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Continue the Change (CC) leader Assen Vassilev described the Government's nomination of Rumen Spetsov for Lukoil Neftochim's special commercial administrator as "a rather bad joke, and not a real nomination". Spetsov was appointed to collect taxes, not to manage a refinery, Vassilev added, referring to Spetsov's appointment as Executive Director of the National Revenue Agency by the cabinet in 2021.

Back then, the government was headed by Continue the Change, and Vassilev was minister of finance.

Vassilev commented that Spetsov does not meet the requirement for the special commercial administrator to have at least five years of experience in the petroleum industry and the management of assets in that industry, introduced in 2023. "It is absolutely unacceptable to play games with Bulgaria's largest enterprise and with whether there will be petrol at petrol stations in such a disgraceful manner, by appointing a person who does not even formally meet the criteria, said Vassilev. 

He noted that he has not been in communication with Spetsov since the end of his term in office as finance minister.

When asked whether it is possible to obtain a derogation from the US sanctions on Lukoil, for which GERB leader Boyko Borisov expressed hope, Vassilev said that talks must be held at the government level. "I do not know. Mr. Borissov, as a member of Parliament, may or may not be involved in these talks, he may be given specific information that has not been submitted to Parliament for three months now," Vassilev added.