Bulgaria's Automobile Administration Agency Head Resigns

Valentin Bozhkov, Executive Director of Bulgaria's Automobile Administration Executive Agency, photo by BGNES

Valentin Bozhkov, Executive Director of Bulgaria's Automobile Administration Executive Agency (AAEA), resigned Thursday, one day after he was charged with malfeasance in office.

Transport Minister Danail Papazov, as cited by the Legal World magazine, explained that Bozhkov would be on a leave on Friday and his resignation would be reviewed on Monday.

Speaking Thursday in the Black Sea city of Varna, Papazov insisted that Bozhkov would be removed from the post if the tip-offs against him concerning the introduction of corrupt practices at the AAEA were conformed.

He explained that the Transport Ministry had received numerous tip-offs about grave violations to the rules for issuing drivers' licenses, all other types of certificates, and permits.

Papazov informed that Bozhkov and most of the other AAEA officials arrested on Tuesday had been released.

Bozhkov was arrested Tuesday in his office during an operation of the State Agency for National Security (DANS) and the "Criminal Police" Chief Directorate of the Interior.

Apart from him, 12 other officials of the AAEA were detained, including Bozhkov's secretary, and charges were pressed against at least 5 of them.

On Wednesday, the Executive Director of the AAEA was questioned at the Center for Prevention and Countering Corruption and Organized Crime at the Council of Ministers, and was officially charged and released upon signed promise for appearance.

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