Bulgaria's football legend, Hristo Stoichkov, slammed Interior Minister, Mihail Mikov, over the decision to dismiss his Deputy, Rumen Andreev.

Stoichkov made a phone call to the "Tete-a-Tete" show, airing on Bulgaria's TV channel Nova Televizia Sunday to say he was appalled by the way a charitable cause has been turned into political PR.

The football star was adamant that reports about loud music, dancing, heavy drinking and smoking of expensive cigars at the questionable party were false and aimed to discredit certain people and while other would gain ground before Bulgaria's parliamentary elections.

Stoichkov further explained that the event could not have been rescheduled to another date, different form the National Day of Mourning for the victims of the tragic bus accident near Yambol, because of his busy schedule and rare visits to Bulgaria.

The football legend said he had been a key figure in the event, the 50th birthday of Ventsislav Rangelov, Department Head at the Interior Ministry, and had paid BGN 2 700 towards the bill.

Hristo Stoichkov further declared that Deputy Interior Minister Andreev would be reinstated and told Mihail Mikov that he was the one who should resign over his failure to lead the Ministry in general and his decision to fire Andreev in particular.

Ventsislav Rangelov is the Head of the Control of Dangerous Weapons and Substances Directorate at the Sofia Directorate of the Interior Ministry. Hristo Stoichkov, reportedely, is Rangelov's Best Man.

The party, according to the many guests, including sports stars and high ranking police officers, has been also planned as a charity event, aiming at collecting donations to support the children of Interior Ministry employees who were killed or died in action.

The party was held in the popular, expensive Sofia restaurant, "Continental Plaza" Friday night, the official day of National Mourning for the Yambol accident victims.

The fallout began when the leader of the opposition "Order, Law and Justice" party, Yane Yanev, was notified that there was a loud party going on at the "Plaza". Yanev and two of his fellow party members went to the location and took pictures, including one of the Interior Minister Mikov's Audi parked in front of the restaurant.

There were another 15 expensive cars, all belonging to high ranking Interior Ministry employees, such as the Border Police Chief, the Chief of the Capital Police Directorate, the Chiefs of most Sofia precincts. In addition to them and Stoichkov, other high profile guests included the Chair of the Bulgarian Football Union, Borislav Mihailov, the Sports Director of the "Levski" football club, the leadership of the "Locomotive" football club, Olympic Shooting Champion, Maria Grozdeva and several other sports celebrities as well as wealthy businessmen.

On Saturday, Bulgaria's Deputy Interior Minister, Rumen Andreev, was fired for his attendance of the party. Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev approved Andreev's dismissal.

Andreev sais he submitted his resignation before the official discharge was ordered.

Sofia Mayor and informal leader of the opposition Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party, Boyko Borisov, on his part also fired one of his top employees who attended the party Friday. Borisov asked the Deputy Mayor of Sofia Yuliya Nenkova to demand the resignation of General Emil Tanev, Director of Coordination, Control, Public Order and Safety Directorate at Sofia Municipality.

Tanev insists he has not done anything wrong and refuses to hand in his resignation.

According to Rangelov himself, whose birthday was celebrated Friday, the party guests donated a total of BGN 17 000 for the charitable cause. Rangelov said he wanted to go on with the party because he was an orphan himself and became successful thanks to the many people, who offered a helping hand and supported him.

An investigation of the Inspectorate of the Interior Ministry is going to check whether the dozens of top Interior Ministry employees who attended the party violated the moral and ethical rules for work of the Ministry, and will recommend actions accordingly.

All guests of the party say they did not hold a loud celebration and there has not been drinking, dancing and loud music. They accuse Yanev of using the event as PR for his election campaign.

As far as Interior Minister Mikov's vehicle, which was photographed parked in front of the restaurant, the Ministry's spokesperson said the Audi with registration plates CA 0101 was used by Mikov only until Thursday and was being repaired.

It remains unclear how the same car ended at the restaurant parking and who was driving it.

Yane Yanev said he was not satisfied with the two discharges and wanted at least the resignation of the Interior Minister.

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