The Bulgarian opposition Socialist party (BSP) launched a new attack on Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, with accusations of ties with the former Communist State Security.

The BSP Member of the Parliament, Kiril Dobrev, revealed that Tsvetanov had started his career within the Interior Ministry's structures as an employee of the Central Informational and Organizational Directorate.

In 1979, the Directorate, which was established in the 60s, had been transferred to the State Security (DS) as the so-called Seventh Directorate, where it remained until the DS closure in the beginning of the 90s of the 20th century.

Tsvetanov's CV, published on the Interior Ministry's official site, shows he began his work with the institution in 1987, but does not specify where exactly. It only lists his positions until 2001 as an expert, inspector, senior inspector, chief inspector, head of a group, and chief expert. A year, after beginning work for the Ministry, Tsvetanov enrolled at the National Sports Academy and graduated with a degree in teaching physical education and coaching track and field.

BSP used the occasion to accuse the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party in applying double standards because they have proposed a parliamentary declaration with lustration texts aimed only at diplomats who have been agents or collaborators of DS.

"How are these Ambassadors worse than Tsvetanov? They made their career abroad because they were fluent in foreign languages; the physical education teacher made it in Bulgaria," Dobrev said.

The opposition further asked for explanation why nothing is being done against the Customs Agency Head, Vanyo Tanov, the Head of the Border Police, Zaharin Penov, or the Head of the "Road Infrastructure Agency, Bozhidar Yotov, since they all have been exposed as DS agents.

When asked if Tsvetanov had a DS file, Dobrev replied the issue was not within his competencies.

BSP MP, Atanas Medzhanov, outlined four reasons why the Socialists would not support the declaration – it is useless, includes lustration texts, applies double standards, and uses ties with DS of certain individuals for political gains.

The declaration is to be debated and voted Friday.

GERB are firm they would not withdraw the declaration, but declined any comments regarding Tsvetanov's alleged affiliation with DS.

*In the period of post-communism after the fall of the various European Communist states in 1989 – 1991, the term lustration came to refer to governments' policies of "mass disqualification of those associated with the abuses under the prior regime"