site.btaUPDATED Interior Minister Hopes Decree Appointing State Agency for National Security Chair Will Be Issued Soon

Interior Minister Daniel Mitov said Friday he hopes that a decree appointing a chairperson for the State Agency for National Security (SANS) will soon be issued. During the First European Firefighting Sports Championship in Dolna Banya, Southwest Bulgaria, he stressed that the Agency is not entirely within his powers and emphasized that the name of the new head of the structure will be announced after the coordination procedures with the President have been completed.

Currently, Denyo Denev serves as acting SANS Chair. 

Commenting on the appointment of Chief Commissioner Miroslav Rashkov as Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior, Mitov said that Rashkov has shown he can handle the position during his time as acting secretary general in the past year.

Minister Mitov also commented on the creation of an operational group to combat money laundering. He recalled that this is a model used in the US, the UK, and other countries.

"This is a model we have been looking at for a long time. Since the beginning of our term in office. We also spoke with representatives of the FBI during my visit to the US and discussed how exactly this could be implemented in Bulgaria. Such specialized task forces operate on the basis of cooperation between various institutions that are relevant to the issue," Mitov explained. He pointed out that if the model works successfully, such a group could also be created to combat hybrid threats.

Mitov said that the pre-trial proceedings will determine whether Nikola "Paskal" Nikolov has enjoyed political protection. Nikolov faces charges of participating in an organized crime group, smuggling and possession of excise goods.

“At the moment, I cannot make accusations against anyone in such a case. We must be very careful, given that these are cases that will take some time to resolve. The whole truth must come out, but it is very possible,” the Minister added. 

“What happens during the proceedings is important. It is not up to us, it is not up to the Ministry of Interior. From now on, everything is in the hands of the prosecution service and the court. It is difficult for me to comment on details that I have no way of knowing,” he explained.