Bulgarian Navy Appoints New Commander-in-Chief

Bulgaria's Head of Defense Gen. Simeon Simeonov (left) with the new Commander-in-Chief of the Bulgarian Navy Rear Admiral Rumen Nikolov (middle) and his predecessor Vice Admiral Plamen Manushev (right) at the handoever ceremony in Sofia. Photo by Defense

The Bulgarian Navy has changed its Commander-in-Chief at a special ceremony at the Defense Ministry headquarters on Thursday.

After being in charge of the Bulgarian Navy for approximately two years, outgoing commander of the Bulgarian Navy, Vice-Admiral Plamen Manushev, transferred his responsibilities to Rear Admiral Rumen Nikolov.

"I wish success to both of them. I am convinced that the Bulgarian Navy is again in good hands – as it has been to date," Bulgaria's Head of Defense Gen. Simeon Simeonov told Manushev and Nikolov at the ceremony in Sofia.

In addition to the post of commander of the Bulgarian Navy, Rear Admiral Rumen Nikolov is also assuming the post of Deputy Head of Defense of the Bulgarian military.

The ceremony was also attended by the Commander of the Bulgarian Joint Forces Command Maj. Gen. Atanas Samandov, the Commander-in-Chief of the Bulgarian Army (i.e. land forces) Maj. Gen. Stefan Vasilev, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Bulgarian Air Force Maj. Gen. Konstantin Popov.