Crossing Borders: Bulgaria's Full Schengen Membership Transforms Travel to Greece and Romania
With Bulgaria's full integration into the Schengen Area, citizens now have the ability to travel freely to neighboring Greece and Romania
Rumors surrounding the State Agency for National Security (SANS) allegedly covering up drug trafficking channels have resurfaced, with former Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov addressing the speculations on Facebook. Denkov's remarks come amidst heightened scrutiny following the detention of former SANS employee, Petya Bankova, who currently serves as director of the Customs Agency.
Denkov, while unable to substantiate the rumors, emphasized the significant drug seizures made by the Customs Agency under Bankova's leadership. Notably, Bankova's tenure has seen record-breaking drug confiscations, prompting Denkov to defend her against accusations of complicity in drug trafficking cover-ups.
Expressing skepticism towards the allegations, Denkov underscored the importance of distinguishing between factual evidence and baseless conjecture. He highlighted the necessity for thorough investigations by both SANS and the anti-corruption commission to validate or refute the rumors circulating in the media.
Despite acknowledging Bankova's impeccable reputation prior to her appointment, Denkov stressed the imperative of accountability and transparency within governmental institutions. He criticized the unconstitutional nature of parliamentary decisions impeding the finance minister's spending authority, deeming it an encroachment on executive powers.
In addition, Denkov condemned Delyan Peevski, describing him as the "biggest evil" plaguing Bulgaria, and dismissed the possibility of coalition involvement with Peevski's party, DPS.
As Denkov awaits official information from SANS regarding the case, he urges a diligent examination of the allegations to safeguard governmental integrity and public trust.
Negotiations to form a new Bulgarian government have entered their final stages, with an agreement reportedly reached on the nomination of Rosen Zhelyazkov from GERB as prime minister
In a recent interview with bTV, Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil expressed his belief that the election of Donald Trump as U.S. President marked a return to "normality" in society
The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) has approved its participation in a government led by GERB, alongside the "There is Such a People" (TISP) party
Bulgaria is set to participate in NATO's largest exercise of 2025, "Steadfast Dart 2025" (STDT25), which will be held across Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania in the first quarter of the year
Negotiations for forming a government in Bulgaria with the first mandate are ongoing
A video circulating on Facebook shows a scene just before Kiril Petkov, leader of the political party "We Continue the Change" and former Prime Minister of Bulgaria, received his indictment from the prosecutor's office.
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