А former diplomat recalled due to corruption allegations had been appointed deputy minister in the caretaker government
A deputy minister responsible for the directorate “Public procurement and investment projects” in the last caretaker government headed by the Prime-minister Ognyan Gerdjikov had been recalled from diplomatic mission in 2006 due to allegations of administrative violations and corruption. The inspection was executed by the internal inspectorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After early termination of his mandate, the diplomat has resigned from the ministry. For the last 10 years he had worked in the private sector until January 2017 when he was appointed a deputy minister with a broad portfolio – resource and supply management, public-private partnerships, investments, control of companies with government share of the capital. He remained in the office for 3 months until the election of the new government.
The ACF investigation was triggered by a signal providing specific information for the former diplomat. Using the legal procedure for free access of information, the ACF submitted a request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking for more detailed information connected to the checks executed by the ministry inspectorate in 2006. The ministry has provided more specific information from the inspection report. The report had recommended that the mandate of two diplomats, found responsible for violations, had to be terminated.
Among the findings are the following irregularities and violations of the diplomats: violations of the legal procedures for issuing of passports; administrative violations; contracting with unlicensed companies; favoritism; conflict to interests. However, instead of continuing with disciplinary proceedings, after his return to Bulgaria, the diplomat decided to resign and leave the ministry.
According to the rules and standards of the ACF, the conclusions from the inspection report are not sufficient to justify the public naming and disclosure of the former official. The ACF send its legal analysis and conclusions to the President of the Republic as responsible for the appointment of the caretaker government and publishes the results without referring to personal data of the former deputy-minister.
The ACF holds the principled position that only persons meeting high standards of professionalism and integrity should be appointed to the high government offices.