Avtomagistrali EAD Director resigns over guardrail safety concerns

Ivan Genov, the Executive Director of the state-owned company Avtomagistrali EAD, has submitted his resignation to the Prime Minister. According to the Road Safety Institute, Genov resigned due to disagreements regarding the replacement of highway guardrails.

The Institute alleges that the state company was pressured by Regional Development Minister Ivan Shishkov to install guardrails that lack necessary certifications, installation instructions, projects, and contracts. There are unconfirmed reports that the guardrails were manufactured by the Turkish company Karac, based in Bursa.

The Road Safety Institute has called for further accountability, suggesting that Alexander Todorov, the Chairman of the Board of the Road Infrastructure Agency (API), should also resign. The organization is demanding clarity from the Prime Minister regarding who authorized the installation of these specific safety features.