WikiLeaks Exposes Top Bulgarian General as US Informer
- Tweet
Send to Kindle
Bulgaria's former Defence Minister N. Svinarov (L) and former General Staff Chief General N. Kolev (R). Photo by Sofia Photo Agency
Bulgaria's former Chief of General Staff, Nikola Kolev, currently Chief of Staff of President, Georgi Parvanov, has provided valuable information to the US Embassy in the beginning of 2003.
The revelation comes from an US diplomatic cable, stamped as Secret, dated January, 10, 2003 and titled "Squaring the Lawyer's Circle – Leading Figures in Bulgaria's Ruling NMSP Party Come under Attack." The cable is signed by CDA Roderick Moore.
The cable was released by WikiLeaks and provided to the project for investigative journalism www.bivol.bg. It brings out new details about key figures from the party of former King and Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, National Movement for Stability and Prosperity (NMSP)
According to the cable, "Gen. Kolev has leveled charges of corruption within the Ministry of Defense, MOD, in a (thus far) still secret report delivered to the President and senior MOD leaders."
Kolev's name has emerged in connection with now former NMSP Defense Minister, Nikolay Svinarov.
The cable further tells about the so-called "Gnome" wiretapping scandal involving the then Chief Prosecutor, Nikola Filchev, the Speaker of the Parliament, Ognyan Gerdzhikov, the leader of the NMSP Parliamentary group, Plamen Panayotov, the Interior Minister, Georgi Petkanov, and Svinarov – all except the latter, known to be part of the powerful Lawyers' Circle.
The cable alleges they were all close to Saxe-Coburg's "notorious former Chief of Staff, Stoyan Ganev."
According to the cable, Svinarov also had ties with "reputed organized crime figure, Vasil Bozhkov."
The most startling revelation from this cable, however, remains the "recruitment" of Gen. Kolev, who informed the Americans about the concealed report of corruption within MOD.
The phrase "strictly protect," is following the mention of Kolev's name – a phrase related to the US Embassy's most valuable informers, according to Bivol.bg.
The entire cable read HERE and HERE.
Bulgaria and Azerbaijan Reaffirm Strategic Partnership in Key Diplomatic Talks
The newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Bulgaria, H.E. Elmar Mammadyarov, has officially begun his diplomatic mission after presenting copies of his credentials to Deputy Foreign Minister Radi Naydenov at the Ministry of Foreign Af
Russia Warns Citizens Against Travel to Bulgaria Over Risk of US Arrests
The Russian Embassy in Sofia has circulated a warning issued by the Foreign Ministry in Moscow, cautioning its citizens about what it describes as a heightened risk of detention abroad at the request of US authorities
Parliament Unanimously Declares Feb. 14 Bulgarian-Polish Friendship Day
The Bulgarian Parliament has adopted a decision establishing February 14 as the official Day of Bulgarian–Polish Friendship and Cooperation. The measure passed unanimously, receiving 165 votes in favor.
Bulgaria's FM Rejects “Threat” Claims Over Iran Note, Calls It Routine Diplomacy
Acting Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynski said that the diplomatic note sent by Iran to Bulgaria should be viewed as standard communication in a period of heightened international tension, stressing that it does not constitute a threat but rather a formal
Acting Deputy FM: Iran Note Acknowledged but No Grounds for Public Alarm in Bulgaria
Acting Deputy Foreign Minister Marin Raykov has commented on the diplomatic note sent by Iran to Bulgaria, stressing that it should not be interpreted as a reason for public alarm
MFA: Skopje Must Ensure Real Protection for Bulgarian Community Rights
Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry has reiterated its position that North Macedonia must fully implement its commitments regarding the protection of the rights of communities, particularly in the context of its EU accession process
