site.btaDefence Minister Nenchev Indicted for Malfeasance in Office

Defence Minister Nenchev Indicted for Malfeasance in Office

Sofia, January 16 (BTA) - The Sofia City Prosecution Office Monday presented to the Sofia City Court an indictment against Bulgarian Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev, the prosecution service said in a press release. He is charged with malfeasance in office from which significant harmful consequences have ensued for the Bulgarian Armed Forces and the case is particularly grave.

According to the prosecution case, between May 5, 2015 and September 9, 2015, Nenchev failed to discharge his official duties under the Defence and Armed Forces Act and to ensure the aviation safety and air worthiness of the Bulgarian Air Force's fighter aircraft fleet.

On April 26, 2015, the Defence Ministry and AO RSK MiG signed two contracts for an extension of the service life of two RD-33 engines by 50 hours each and repair of two RD-33 engines and one aircraft accessory gearbox for MiG-29 at an aggregate cost of 3,773,000 euro (7,388,666 leva). Instead of these contracts being actually implemented, Nenchev told Deputy Defence Minister Dessislava Yossifova to keep them in her safe and not to take any steps whatsoever for their performance, so that the aircraft would not be repaired. Nenchev continued to give the same instructions to his subordinates at the Ministry during the next couple of months.

Between November 7, 2014 and March 29, 2016, Nenchev again failed to discharge his official duties: in violation of the Defence and Armed Forces Act, he failed to endorse a project for an investment expenditure on a repair of components and supply of spare parts for MiG-29, thus failing to ensure the aviation safety and air worthiness of the Bulgarian Air Force's fighter aircraft fleet.

The criminal offence allegedly resulted in significant harmful consequences for the Bulgarian Armed Forces: Bulgarian Air Force pilots' annual flight hours were reduced to 33, against a NATO-established standard of 180 annual flight hours or at least a minimum of 80 annual flight hours. This allegedly led to a risk of grave aviation incidents due to loss of shape. Nenchev's actions allegedly led to a decrease in the numerical strength of the trained pilot personnel and overworking of the pilots engaged in air policing and an impossibility to ensure the training of young MiG-29 pilots. For this reason, it was allegedly impossible to maintain the requisite number of trained pilots.