Director Dismissed for Abuse to Distribute 6 Billion Euros from The EU Recovery Plan

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Dismissed after suspicions of abuses, Ministerial Chief Stefan Popov quietly became Director of the newly established mega-agency State Agency for Research and Innovation at the Council of Ministers. It is through it that 6 billion euros will be absorbed in the period 2021-2027. the Recovery and Stability Plan.

In 2019, the Director of the Directorate General for European Funding (the Managing Authority of OPIC) Smilena Kostova dismissed all heads of departments, including the head of the most key Monitoring Department – Stefan Popov. The reason is suspicions of heavy misuse of EU funds under projects under the “Operational Program Innovation and Competitiveness”, because of which there is a report to SANS and a development in OLAF.

All dismissed complained of unlawful removal in the Sofia City Council, but only Stefan Popov’s claim was upheld by a decision of the Supreme Administrative Court of 23.03.2021. After the judgment, Stefan Popov was reinstated as a state expert for a day, but instead of being immediately fired, as is the practice, on April 12 he was reappointed as Director of the Tools and Networks Directorate (DIM) at the National Administrative Court.

Ladybug reshuffles in the management of OPIC

Iliana Ilieva. Photo from her personal Facebook profile

Meanwhile, strange appointments are also taking place in the Directorate General for European Funding, which is the managing authority of OPIC. Director General becomes Iliana Ilieva. Ilieva’s career growth from an expert in the Employment Agency through a chief expert at OPIC to a director of such a key position is related to her proximity to GERB, commented BRRD sources at the Ministry of Economy.

Evelina Zaharieva became Head of Risk Management, Control and Security Department. The latter has experience from the Inspectorate Directorate at the Ministry of Justice, but has no experience with EU projects. It will now be responsible for irregularities and financial corrections in projects. She was also appointed as Ilieva’s replacement.

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За да научавате преди всички за нови разследвания, инсталирайте си нашето мобилно приложение:

Щом сте стигнали дотук, вероятно вече си задавате въпроса как се финансира този журналистически проект.

От създаването си BIRD се финансираше от подаяния в нашето журналистическо чекмедже.
Но на чекмеджето му мина времето. Даже прокуратурата затвори онова Чекмедже, знаете кое…
Нашето финансиране влиза в крак с епохата. Фондонабиращата ни кампания вече се казва

#МятайСБЪРД

Дарявай за BIRD и мятай павета в блатото с корумпирани политици и други тарикати.
Те тайно премятат пари от твоя джоб в своя. Те размятат безнаказано лукса си пред очите на всички. Няма кой да ги накаже ако се надяваш на държавата.
Мятай, за да ги накажеш ти. Да дариш за разследващите журналисти е гаранция, че гадостите, с които силните на деня те замерят, ще им се върнат.
Можеш да метнеш веднъж, за да ти олекне!
Но по-добре е да мяташ редовно всеки месец и да се чувстваш трайно удовлетворен.
А най-добре е да доведеш приятели и да мятаме редовно заедно в екип. С мощен залп!
*За кръстник на новата ни фондонабираща кампания избрахме другарката Ваня. Благодарим й за вдъхновението!