Bulgarian Comedian Cash-Strapped at Chicago Consulate

Dimitar Tudzharov enjoys the support of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, who claims he is much more able than most diplomats sent to Bulgaria's embassies across the world over the last few years. File photo

A Bulgarian comedian, who back in the communist era, was popular as an imitator of former dictator Todor Zhivkov, has been appointed on the staff of the country's General Consulate at Chicago in the United States, but there is no money for his salary.

"The order for the appointment of Dimitar Tudzharov at Bulgaria's consulate in Chicago has been signed, but the lack of money prevents us from sending him here," Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov said at a meeting with Bulgarians, living in Chicago.

Reports say the appointment of the popular comedian is received with mixed feelings in the Bulgarian community in Chicago as many people doubt his diplomatic skills.

Tudzharov however enjoys the support of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, who claims he is much more able than most diplomats sent to Bulgaria's embassies across the world over the last few years.

The comedian will join the team of Lila Georgieva, whose posting as Bulgaria's consul in Chicago a year ago caused a bit of a splash, with a ripple effect back to her homeland.

The scandal erupted after Georgieva posted on her Web site a photo that shows her looking back over her shoulder at the camera, clad in minimalist underpants.

Two years earlier, her superiors, confronting her with the revealing shot, had sentenced Georgieva to the diplomatic-service equivalent of Siberia - a year of pushing paper in Sofia, after which she passed over a chance to be consul in Brazil.

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