Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry Announces New Leadership Appointments

Sofia, Bulgaria – February 24, 2026 – Bulgaria’s caretaker Interior Minister, Emil Dechev, announced key leadership changes within the Ministry of Interior today, including the appointment of three Deputy Interior Ministers and an acting Deputy Secretary General. The changes are aimed at ensuring the Ministry’s preparedness for the upcoming April 19 elections and preventing electoral fraud.

New Deputy Ministers Appointed

Ivan Anchev, Kaloyan Kaloyanov, and Kaloyan Miltenov have been appointed as Deputy Interior Ministers, effective immediately, according to a statement released by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). [1]

Georgi Kandev Named Acting Deputy Secretary General

Georgi Kandev, previously the police attaché of Bulgaria in Serbia, will serve as the acting Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior. [2] Minister Dechev indicated he will not propose a permanent Secretary General at this time. Kandev is a graduate of the FBI Academy in the United States and is fluent in English, with experience in numerous criminal investigations. [2]

Focus on Electoral Integrity

Minister Dechev emphasized the importance of preventing electoral manipulations, vote buying, and controlled voting in the upcoming April 19 elections. [1] He stated that the Ministry will utilize information on high-risk polling stations and will likely build replacements of regional directors where problems have been identified.

Potential Changes to Regional Police Directors

The Minister indicated that directors of regional police departments should be individuals dedicated to preventing electoral fraud. [1]

Background on Georgi Kandev

Georgi Kandev has a background as the Director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Blagoevgrad. [3] [4]