Bulgaria PM Hires Communist Security Agent as Economic Advisor

Bulgarian economist, Kolio Paramov, at a reception with the mother of US movie star Sylvester Stalone. Photo by BGNES

Kolio Paramov is the new economic advisor of Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov.

Paramov, himself, confirmed Saturday for the Bulgarian information agency BGNES the news about his appointment, but declined to offer any details, saying he is just beginning the job.

Paramov had been hired on January 22 and began work as economic advisor on January 25, however the exact tasks in front of him are yet to be determined, the economist says.

Paramov was born in 1954 in the city of Stara Zagora. He is a graduate of the Sofia University with degrees in Geography and Philosophy and also has a degree in International Business Relations from the University of World and National Economy in Sofia.

He has been the Mayor of the industrial town “Erma Reka”, Assistant Director of the “Gorubso” mining company in the southern town of Zlatograd, and Chief Auditor at the Bulgarian Central Bank (BNB) in 1998. Paramov currently works as financial advisor.

The economist has also been a Member of the 36th Parliament from the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).

Bulgaria’s so-called Files Committee in charge of investigation former Communist State Security collaborators, recently announced Paramov had been an agent of the secret police, working under the alias Yakov.

Despite his affiliation with the Socialist Party, Paramov is known as a strong critic of the former Three-Party Coalition cabinet, led by socialist PM, Sergey Stanishev.

“Bulgaria never had such a weak PM. He is hesitant, incapable, and pressured by the ethnic Turkish party leader, Ahmed Dogan, who through 4-5 oligarchs is ruling the country,” Paramov said at the time.