Bulgarian President dismisses head of National Protection Service
Bulgarian President Roumen Radev has signed the decree dismissing the head of the National Protection Service Angel Antonov, the presidency said on February 9.
Antonov had submitted his resignation on January 31 and is slated to become Bulgaria’s consul-general in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city. His erstwhile deputy at the National Protection Service, Rossen Todorov, will be interim head of the service, the presidency said.
Recent reports in Bulgarian media have claimed that Antonov did not have Radev’s confidence. The service, which provides protection to government and elected officials – but also people other than those holding state office, on the grounds of national security – is subordinated to the president, but its head is nominated by the Cabinet and appointed by presidential decree.
Last month, the service also became the subject of an investigation by military prosecutors. Although details were not made public, Bulgarian National Television reported that Antonov was the target of the investigation following tip-offs made by National Protection Service employees.
