# Bulgaria interior ministry reforms and leadership changes

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bulgaria-interior-ministry-reforms
> Updated: 2026-08-28T17:53:23.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 3.

In late July 2026, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev ordered the shutdown of a special unit within the Ministry of Interior, labeling it a “parasitic” structure that cost €3.7 million and employed 46 staff across six ministries. He mandated its dissolution within a month, noting that employees had lost the trust of ministry leadership and would be reassigned individually.

A few days later, on 3 August 2026, Demerdzhiev announced a reshuffle of regional police leadership, appointing temporary directors for the Vidin, Stara Zagora, and Kyustendil directorates. He emphasized that “no one is above the state and no one is greater than the law,” calling for responsible conduct to restore public trust.

On 28 August 2026, the ministry faced further scrutiny following the dismissal of Iliyan Tuparov, the Director of the Regional Directorate in Blagoevgrad. The dismissal followed a controversial incident in the village of Strumyani, where officers used force to arrest journalist Gergana Petrova during a visit to a flood-affected area by President Rumen Radev. Demerdzhiev cited the excessive use of force and Tuparov’s failure to report the incident promptly as reasons for the dismissal. The incident has drawn criticism from political opposition groups and prompted President Radev to order formal investigations into the Ministry of Interior and the National Security Service to determine if legal mandates were exceeded.

These developments reflect a period of intense internal reform and heightened accountability measures within the Bulgarian interior ministry and police structures.

## Claims

- Interior Minister Ivan Demerzhiev dismissed Iliyan Tuparov as the Director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior (ODMVR) in Blagoevgrad. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The dismissal was based on the actions of police officers in the village of Strumyani. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Iliyan Tuparov failed to report the incident involving the arrest of a woman in a timely manner. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Police response in Strumyani exceeded necessary and legal actions. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Journalist Gergana Petrova was detained after refusing to show identification and entering a protected zone. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- President Rumen Radev ordered investigations into the Ministry of Interior and the National Security Service regarding the arrest. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-28: Bulgarian Interior Minister dismisses Blagoevgrad police chief

Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerzhiev dismissed the Blagoevgrad police chief following the controversial arrest of journalist Gergana Petrova in Strumyani.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bulgarian-interior-minister-dismisses-blagoevgrad-police-chief

### 2026-08-05: Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev reshuffles regional police chiefs

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev appointed new heads for the Vidin, Stara Zagora and Kyustendil police directorates, emphasizing rule of law and accountability.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bulgarian-interior-minister-ivan-demerdzhiev-reshuffles-regional-police-chiefs

### 2026-07-30: Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev shuts down €3.7 million ‘parasitic’ unit

Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev ordered the July‑3 closure of a €3.7 million “parasitic” unit in the Ministry of Interior, citing high salaries and loss of trust among its 46 staff.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bulgarian-interior-minister-ivan-demerdzhiev-shuts-down-37-million-parasitic-unit

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Cite as: Bulgaria interior ministry reforms and leadership changes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bulgaria-interior-ministry-reforms