President Appoints New Head of National Security Service

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev appointed Lt Gen Angel Antonov head of the National Security Service (NSO) on Monday.

By a decree Plevneliev dismissed Todor Kodzheykov and his deputy Kalin Ivanov from office, the president's press service has reported.

The head of state also appointed Col Yulian Haralampiev and Col Krasimir Stanchev to be Antonov's deputies.

Angel Antonov, born in 1860, has built his entire career within the system of the Interior Ministry. From 2010 to 2011 he headed the Criminal Police Department at the Ministry, and between 2011 and 2013 he was Director of the National Police Department.

Antonov's nomination of the NSO's top position was announced by the government in mid-May, but under Bulgarian law it was up to the President to approve the cabinet's proposal.

"Personal reasons" were reportedly behind Todor Kodzheykov's decision to vacate the position in end-February this year along with deputy Kain Ivanov.

Later accounts suggested Kodzheykov, who is considered a close ally to former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, was planning to work for South Stream Bulgaria, but this has not yet been confirmed.