site.btaIvaylo Ivanov Resigns as Interior Ministry Secretary General

Ivaylo Ivanov has resigned as the head of the political cabinet of the Interior Minister, the Interior Ministry said on Monday. 

He was appointed to the post on Friday. His appointment caused critical reactions and debates. 

Ivanov previously held the position until May 2021, when, at the proposal of the Council of Ministers, President Rumen Radev signed a decree on his dismissal, due to a violation of basic principles of the work in the Ministry of Interior, related to disregard for civil rights, indicated the legal information system of the Council of Ministers. The reasons for the dismissal also state that Ivanov was responsible for Interior Ministry actions against the protests that began on July 9, 2020 and continued until the end of 2020 "against the growing corruption and lawlessness in the governance of the country".

As indicated in the Council of Ministers' reasons for Ivanov's dismissal, when neutralizing the citizens' protest, Interior Ministry employees made organizational and tactical errors. Despite Ivanov's claims at the time that the operation of the police authorities was "perfectly organized" and they handled it "professionally", on the evening of September 2, 2020, the tension between the law enforcement agencies and the protesters escalated in the capital and clashes occurred, resulting in both individuals with aggressive behavior, and also peaceful protesting citizens and journalists, being injured to varying degrees.