Bulgaria Overhauls Police Leadership Ahead of Elections

Sofia, Bulgaria – In a sweeping move to ensure election integrity, Bulgaria’s Ministry of Interior has replaced the heads of its General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, the General Directorate for National Police, and the General Directorate for Gendarmerie, Special Operations and Combating Terrorism. The changes, announced on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, signal a comprehensive effort to revamp leadership within the security agency as the country prepares for upcoming elections.

Key Leadership Changes

The outgoing directors are Boyan Raev, formerly head of the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime; Zahari Vaskov, former director of the National Police; and Nikolay Nikolov, who led the General Directorate for Gendarmerie, Special Operations and Combating Terrorism.

Acting Minister Emil Dechev emphasized that new appointments will prioritize candidates demonstrating authority, integrity, and substantial professional experience.

Widespread Reshuffling

The leadership changes extend beyond these top positions. According to Dechev, 23 of the 28 regional directorates have already undergone leadership changes, with the remaining five slated for replacement. This widespread reshuffling reflects a broader plan to prepare the Ministry of Interior for the upcoming elections and ensure fair and lawful proceedings.

Focus on Integrity and Accountability

Dechev stressed that even newly appointed regional directors are not guaranteed long-term positions, and any violations of the law will result in further replacements. This underscores a commitment to accountability and maintaining public trust in the electoral process.

Boyan Raev Reappointed to GDCOC

Despite being among those initially dismissed, Boyan Raev has been reappointed as the Director of the Interior Ministry’s General Directorate Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC). Previously serving as GDCOC deputy director since 2023, Raev was promoted to Chief Commissioner by Interior Minister Daniel Mitov.

Ongoing Purge

The dismissals are part of an ongoing “purge” at the top levels of the security agency, according to reports. Emil Dechev has dismissed over 20 directors of regional directorates of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.