Bulgarian Executive Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River ex-chief Georgi Georgiev has not been fired for political reasons, said Bulgarian Minister of Transport Ivaylo Moskovski Tuesday.

Georgiev reported Monday he had been unexpectedly dismissed from the Agency after some 34 years of service in it, 21 of which as its head.

Georgiev added that vice-Minister of Transport Kamen Kichev explained to him that the decision taken is of a "political nature".

"The reason for Georgiev's dismissal is totally of an expert, rather than political nature. I do not know why colleagues explained it that way," commented Minister Moskovski Tuesday.

According to him, the Danube Agency has allegedly failed to present an adequate project for the EUR 138 M of funds it had at its disposal on the Transportation Operational Programme, albeit it plenty of time to revise its draft projects.

Moskovski also added that he has further misgivings regarding the way the Danube Agency manages several of its other projects.

The news comes amidst record just as record low level of the Lower Danube, i.e. the Bulgarian-Romanian section – the lowest since 1941 – have been devastating trade and other economic activities depending on the great European river for several weeks.

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