site.btaTransport Minister Karadjov Fires Officials in Road Transport Administration Corruption Crackdown

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov met with the leadership of the Road Transport Administration (RTA) Executive Agency in Sofia on Wednesday following a scandal over agency inspectors extorting foreign drivers.

Karadjov said that an apology is owed to the foreign drivers who were extorted by agency inspectors, calling the conduct deeply shameful. He noted that these drivers arrived in Bulgaria to perform their work but faced corruption and extortion, which is unacceptable. He also mentioned that an apology is owed to Bulgarian citizens, as Bulgaria’s reputation has been affected by this scandal.

Karadjov announced that, after the detention of two inspectors, four agency officials would be dismissed: the director of RTA's General Directorate for Road Transport Inspection, the head of the Sofia Regional Office of RTA, and two members of the internal anti-corruption committee who did not fulfill their responsibilities to prevent such misconduct. He said that responsibility rests not only with the inspectors but also with their supervisors, who must oversee and coordinate monitoring activities.

Karadjov introduced new agency regulations, such as equipping all road inspectors with body cameras to increase transparency and implementing mandatory staff rotation to prevent local collusion and irregularities.

He said that Transparency International has been invited to conduct an independent external audit of the agency. The audit will include a review of all corruption reports submitted this year to identify any system breaches. Karadjov stated that his duty is to safeguard Bulgarian citizens and uphold the interests of employees who act with integrity. He said that inspectors who have integrity would receive support, while corrupt inspectors would be identified and held accountable. He also made clear that there would be no protection, leniency, or exceptions.

Earlier on Wednesday, politicians reacted to the arrest of two Road Transport Administration employees over bribes linked to equipment carriers for a Robbie Williams concert in Sofia. Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) pushed mandatory body cameras for all RTA staff, with Yes, Bulgaria (part of CC-DB’s parliamentary group) Co-Chair Ivaylo Mirchev calling the agency one of the most corrupt. GERB leader Boyko Borissov urged closing the RTA and shifting functions to the Traffic Police and the toll system, a move backed by Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning (MRF-NB) floor leader Delyan Peevski, who also floated a transfer to the Interior Ministry. Velichie party leader Ivelin Mihaylov advocated automation and streamlining but argued corruption at the RTA was lower than elsewhere. MP of BSP-United Left and Chair of the Parliamentary Transport and Communication Committee Kiril Dobrev proposed merging the Traffic Police, the RTA and the National Toll Administration into a single road-control body. Vazrazhdane MP Nikola Dimitrov opposed shutting the agency, calling for sweeping restructuring and accountability for senior officials.

On Monday Karadjov told BTA that disciplinary proceedings have been immediately instituted against two RTA inspectors and they have already been dismissed.