site.btaMedia Review: August 13

POLITICS

24 Chasa says the military do not use the Guardian airborne firefighting system for three years, purchased for the Spartan aircraft at the tail end of the cabinet led by Kiril Petkov, Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) former co-chair, which triggers a heated blame game.  Trud, Dnevnik and Mediapool.bg also provide coverage.

Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov confirms this in a written reply to National Assembly Defence Committee Chair Hristo Gadzhev. The Air Force analysis two years prior finds safety issues: an 800-metre security zone with no people or houses is required, and there are limits on speed and altitude. The system is bought under an offset agreement between the Government and Leonardo, signed on June 21, 2022, a day before the Petkov government is toppled in the first successful vote of no confidence; the offset is worth EUR 6.7m and the system costs just under EUR 3.5m.

Training is agreed in Leonardo’s simulator in Pisa, but only two Air Force pilots are trained, they still do not meet conditions to perform airdrop tasks, a training stage is skipped despite Air Force insistence, and missions are flown in mixed crews with Italians rather than solo.

“This venture is a stark example of governmental waste of public funds and should be seriously accounted for in current initiatives to purchase firefighting aircraft,” Gadjev says. He then urges the Defence Ministry to release what offset proposals have been submitted, alleges CC acts in the interest of a private company, and shifts the question to why the system is bought at all. CC responds that the Petkov government uses the option, foreseen in the 2006 acquisition contract, to equip Spartans with a firefighting module, asks why Spartans are not equipped during GERB’s rule, and accuses the rulers of attacking the opposition instead of seeking solutions.

At the end of July, Zapryanov talks of buying three new Spartans with a more precise water-dispersal system; he calls the existing module outdated and ineffective in forested and mountainous terrain. The new module can carry up to 8 tonnes of water, be loaded at any airport in 8 minutes, provide precise firefighting, and remove requirements for minimum speed and flight at up to 150 m.

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Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) said Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov opened the cabinet meeting saying the government followed its programme and would not deal with “petty issues” and “day-to-day squabbles” from political forces preparing for autumn. He noted a stable parliamentary majority and warned the constitutional balance between institutions was paralyzed, which hindered forming bodies tied to national security and the diplomatic service. “Parliament has the primary duty to restore this balance through legal changes,” Zhelyazkov said, adding the cabinet had no summer break and was ready for “battles.” Before the session, ministers applauded young men who helped fight wildfires; “their example should be contagious… we must see them as a commitment for the present,” Zhelyazkov said.

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Bulgarian National Television (BNT) said Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Leader Delyan Peevski called for closing the Public Enterprises and Control Agency, the successor to the Privatization and Post-Privatization Control Agency. “State property and enterprises must remain where they are, and ownership must be used to meet commitments to people, to build schools, kindergartens and housing,” Peevski said. “The first step is shutting the Public Enterprises and Control Agency and drafting an ownership management strategy for every ministry, municipality and state body,” he added.

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Telegraph says Russia seeks to reopen a General Consulate in Varna under “reciprocity,” with a diplomatic note to the Foreign Ministry. The plan places it at the junction of Dunav and Kozloduy streets, about 200 m from the Navy headquarters. Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB), part of the Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) coalition, calls this “hostile positioning of an operational base” beside a strategic NATO site and urges an immediate, categorical rejection; the file sits with the State Agency for National Security (SANS), and delay risks “tacit consent,” DSB said.

The Varna consulate closes in October 2023 after the Petkov government expels 70 Russian diplomats in 2022; the Varna and Ruse posts remain without staff and relations deteriorate. With Russia waging war against Ukraine, Bulgaria labelled an “enemy state,” and repeated use of diplomatic cover for espionage, restoring such a structure so close to a key base is “a direct security threat,” DSB said, adding that any other decision would be “political capitulation” and a blow to Bulgaria’s and NATO’s Black Sea defence.

Trud, 24 Chasa, Dnevnik and Mediapool.bg also provided coverage for this story.

ECONOMY

Capital says Bulgaria’s IT consulting market passes BGN 100 million in 2024, with turnover up over 55% (around 35% on a like-for-like basis), driven by digital transformation, cloud adoption and rising cybersecurity demand. Leaders include Crayon, KPMG IT Service and SAP Labs Bulgaria. Crayon highlights an AI spare-parts recognition system for Coca-Cola HBC used in 48 factories, delivering 97% accuracy and ROI under two years; “we delivered an innovative AI project with Coca-Cola HBC,” Piperova says. KPMG IT Service expands to 20 countries and broadens services across ServiceNow, SAP, cybersecurity, Google Cloud and Microsoft Power Platform, and from July 1, 2025 separates consulting into KPMG Delivery Network LLC. SAP Labs Bulgaria’s consulting grows over 35% to about 7% of local revenue. Balkan Services reports multiple BI/ERP projects (Qlik Sense, Lucanet, NetSuite, Enterpoint) and targets deeper industry penetration and euro-adoption upgrades; “our forecast for 2025 is ~30% growth,” Rashev says. ITCE posts around 20% consulting growth on ServiceNow programmes, while Next Consult starts an SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud project and deploys SAP DMC and Salesforce abroad, Dochev says. Average gross pay in the segment rises to over BGN 6,015 per month.

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Duma says the Labour and Social Policy Ministry touts 135,000 one-day labour contracts since the start of the year after simpler procedures remove ID/address fields, fixed workday entries and the single-crop restriction. Labour Minister Borislav Gutsanov says hiring for the autumn harvest becomes faster and calmer. Checks in the high-risk agriculture sector reach 2,381, with about 8,000 violations and 104 cases without contracts, one-third fewer year-on-year; farms rely mainly on Bulgarian labour and 1,500 work permits for third-country nationals are issued.

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bTV reported that Sofia Municipality has announced a public procurement procedure to select a new servicing bank for the municipality and its affiliated entities, allowing a ten-day period for bid submissions. Simultaneously, written invitations were sent to the four largest banks, as determined by criteria established by the Bulgarian National Bank. A commission of councillors and administrators, formed by the mayor, set the selection criteria to ensure transparency and equal competition. Sofia municipality said all payments to contractors and staff would follow schedule without interruption.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

24 Chasa covers searches at homes and offices tied to arms dealers Hristo Hristov and Gencho Hristov, while both are abroad. On Tuesday, investigators from the National Investigation Service, GDCOC and the Gendarmerie enter premises including the office of Sage Consultants on Cherni Vrah Blvd. in Sofia.

Prosecutors say the searches execute a legal assistance request from Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau in a probe into corruption in arms sales at inflated prices. Ukrainian authorities allege the company circumvents sanctions on Russia, sells at high prices to Kyiv and also trades with Moscow.

Little is known about the two businessmen; 68-year-old Gencho Hristov appears in State Security archives as having been recruited in 1977.

24 Chasa adds that the Prosecution Service also examines the two after US services share operational information about deliveries of weapons and ammunition to Mexico’s Jalisco cartel. Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov visits the National Investigation Service with FBI officers, possibly linked to the operation. Operational information indicates that the firearms and ammunition traded by Bulgarian national Petar Mirchev, detained in Spain, are bought from the partners’ company.

24 Chasa notes an April 10 indictment by the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia alleging Mirchev and three others organize delivery of 50 Kalashnikov rifles and 140,000 rounds to the cartel and intend to supply drones and anti-tank weapons. Mirchev is arrested in Madrid on April 8 and the cartel is designated a terrorist organization by the US in February.

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Nova TV examined whether raids on Bulgarian arms firms would affect the country, with security expert Atanas Rusev and former Interior Ministry Academy deputy rector Milen Ivanov. Rusev warned of reputational and economic risks for a fast-growing sector and linked the case to Petar Mirchev’s arrest, adding: “Ill-judged actions without evidence can hurt the country,” Rusev said. Ivanov questioned the absence of the State Agency for National Security (SANS): "I do not see SANS being involved," Ivanov said, and argued Ukrainian anti-corruption bodies were highly politicized in wartime and directed by the military and political leadership.

SOCIETY

24 Chasa says a National Centre for Parliamentary Research survey (May–June; 1,000 people aged 15–35) finds young people now prioritize teaching and medicine over IT: teacher 14.1%, medic 13.3%, IT 12.3%. The shift tracks higher teacher pay (BGN 920 in 2019 to BGN 2,131 from April 1, 2025) and IT market saturation; interest also grows for engineers, economists, mechanics, accountants, drivers, police, architects and designers. Money drives choices—62.9% put pay first, ahead of professional development (40.5%) and work-life balance (32.75%); employer reputation matters to 2.9%. Labour-market detachment persists (33% not working), the private sector employs 53.9% and the State sector 13.1%. Most intend to stay in Bulgaria (73%; 23% would leave temporarily; 5% permanently), while dissatisfaction with local job prospects and pay remains high, and concern over law and order rises to 22.5% from 11.1% in 2020.

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24 Chasa says the Perseids peak on the night between August 12 and 13 turns Bulgaria into a stage for astro-tourism, with dozens of meteors per hour expected. Recommended viewing spots include the Rozhen Observatory, the Eastern Rhodopes around Madzharovo and Krumovgrad, the Shumen Plateau, Strandzha and Sakar, Belogradchik Rocks, Blue Stones National Park near Sliven, Koprivshtitsa, Melnik and Pirin, and the coast near Shabla and Durankulak. “Conditions in Bulgaria will be excellent for observation; choose dark sites, bring warm clothes and a camera,” the Tourism Ministry says.

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Trud says draft changes to the Health Insurance Act allow the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to conduct joint inspections of hospitals with the State Agency for National Security and other competent bodies, ending the model where only NHIF inspectors oversee compliance. The NHIF and its regional branches also gain explicit powers to review hospital staff documentation, including pay compliance with the sector collective bargaining agreement, and Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union experts may attend pharmacy checks if not contracted with the outlet. Public consultation runs until August 22.

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Telegraph says the Education Ministry discusses giving pupils artificial intelligence (AI) assistant bots and building a platform to personalize learning. AI identifies individual gaps, generates tailored tests and tasks, and helps school heads with administrative tasks. Education Minister Krasimir Valchev says teaching shifts toward the flipped classroom as teachers struggle to detect AI-written homework; “students should have assistant bots that help them learn more effectively,” Valchev says. He adds AI content integrates into existing information technology subjects rather than a new class. He warns overuse may harm skills, citing a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, claiming prolonged AI use reduces brain activity by 47%, and stresses stronger focus on concentration, language, maths, and science.

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Mediapool.bg says sappers destroy a military drone found on Harmani beach near Sozopol. Beachgoers alert 112 in the early morning hours, police cordon the area, and Burgas Regional Administration requests military support. The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) shows broken wings and shell deposits, suggesting months in the sea; at noon engineers carry out a controlled detonation. The Defence Ministry does not specify whether the UAV is Russian or Ukrainian.

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Dnevnik says the Agriculture Ministry denies fabricated claims that it plans “LGBT quotas” in farms, stressing it neither adopts nor discusses measures to collect data on workers’ sexual orientation and calling the posts gross disinformation. The ministry says it reacts swiftly after calls from concerned citizens: “An institution must parry false claims, only so people do not get misled,” the ministry press service says. Dnevnik traces the rumour to two anonymous sites (including a repost by “Anonymous-bg”) and a Facebook post by an individual, with invented quotes attributed to Minister Georgi Tahov and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The false story emerges as the government approves the state-backed “People’s Store” chain under the ministry; the posts allege [Movement for Rights and Freedoms Leader] Delyan Peevski “orders” the move, which the ministry rejects.