Ministry of Defence (Bulgaria)

The Ministry of Defence (Bulgarian: Министерство на отбраната, Ministerstvo na otbranata) of Bulgaria is the ministry charged with regulating the Bulgarian Armed Forces. The current Minister of Defence is Todor Tagarev.

Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria
Министерство на отбраната
Ministerial insignia

Ministry of Defence building in Sofia
Agency overview
Formed1879
JurisdictionGovernment of Bulgaria
HeadquartersDyakon Ignatiy 3, Sofia
Agency executive
Websitewww.mod.bg/en

The present building of the ministry is among the finest examples of the Bulgarian modern architecture from the middle of 20th century. It was designed by the famous Bulgarian architectural team Vasilyov-Tsolov and completed in the period 1939–45.

History

The Ministry was created in 1879. Between 1911 and 1947 it was called Ministry of War (Министерство на войната, Ministerstvo na voynata) and from 1947 to 1990 it bore the name Ministry of People's Defence (Министерство на народната отбрана, Ministerstvo na narodnata otbrana).

Structure

Political Cabinet

The political cabinet assists the Minister of Defense in formulating and developing particular decisions for carrying out the governmental policy, and in representing that policy to society. It consists of the deputy ministers, the head of the Minister's office, the parliamentary secretary and the Chief of the Public Relations unit. The work of the cabinet is assisted by experts. There are currently two Deputy Ministers serving office: Ivan Ivanov and Spas Panchev.

Secretary General

The Ministry of Defence in October 1930 - the decorations are for the wedding of Boris III with Giovanna of italy. The then name Министерство на войната (Ministry of War) can be seen above.

The Secretary General carries out the administrative leadership of the Ministry of Defense by implementing the legal orders issued by the Minister of Defense; it also leads, coordinates, and controls the functioning of the Ministry of Defense with respect to the strict observation of the laws and the sub-law acts, and reports to the Minister of Defense on the activities of the Ministry of Defense; The Secretary General:

  • leads, coordinates and controls the circulation of documentation;
  • manages the accountability and the control over the preparation of orders and guidance of the Minister of Defense;
  • guides the process on the automation of the management of the Ministry of Defense;
  • organizes and is responsible for the keeping and managing of the real estate and portable items provided to and used by the Ministry of Defense.
  • approves the expenditures necessary for managing the Ministry of Defense;
  • develops the draft of the budget of the Ministry of Defense in its part related to the means necessary for the administrative support of the activities of the Ministry of Defense;
  • keeps track of legal and appropriate spending of the financial means and materiel provided for the Ministry of Defense;
  • prepares an annual report on the status of the administrative activities in the Ministry of Defense, which he presents to the Minister of the State's Administration after the report is approved by the Minister of Defense.

The Minister of Defense's job within the Secretary General is that

  • he is responsible for the checking regime and security in the building of the Ministry of Defense;
  • he fulfills other tasks as well which are assigned to him by the Minister of Defense

Inspectorate

The Inspectorate to the Ministry of Defense provides the act of fulfilling the control functions on the part of the Minister of Defense in carrying out the state policy in the sphere of defense. The Inspectorate makes examines and makes investigations with respect to:

  • observation of the laws and of the orders issued by the Minister of Defense;
  • observation of the order and discipline in the troops;
  • management and assigning of financial means and materiel;
  • personnel management;
  • preservation of the natural environment;
  • other checks assigned to the inspectorate by the Minister of Defense.

The Inspectorate is directly subordinated to the Minister of Defense and is headed by the Chief Inspector. It additionally studies the suggestions, signals, litigations and requests filed in by physical persons or legal entities to the Minister of Defense and prepares answers to the above-mentioned. The organization of the activities of the inspectorate, the types of the checks as well as the conditions and the order of how to conduct them, are determined by the Minister of Defense.

General Administration

The general Administration of the Ministry of Defense is organized into directorates "Administrative and Financial Service" and "Financial-Economic Activities".

Specialized Administration

The specialized administration of the Ministry of Defense is organized into eleven directorates. The specialized administration assists and provides for the realization of the rights of the Minister of Defense and of the deputy ministers of defense within the framework of the rights delegated to them and the functions they are assigned.

Directorate:

  • Defense policy directorate
  • Defense planning and programming directorate
  • International cooperation directorate
  • Budget planning and management directorate
  • Personnel policy directorate
  • Financial control activities directorate
  • Procurement management directorate
  • Military infrastructure directorate
  • Armaments and equipment policy directorate
  • Legal and regulatory affairs (LRA) directorate
  • Military Standardization, Quality and Codification Directorate

Officer on Security of Information

The officer on the security of the information is directly subordinated to the Minister of Defense and fulfills the tasks, which are assigned to him by virtue of the Law on the protection of the classified information and by the sub-law acts on the enforcement of the above-mentioned law. In carrying out his functions, the officer on the security of information is assisted by a unit working on the security of the information.

Administrative Structures subordinated to the Ministry of Defense

Military information service

This functions as a

  • military information service which is a legal entity supported by the budget - it is a secondary budget credit holder to the Minister of Defense;
  • military information service which acquires, processes, analyzes, keeps and provides information in the interest of defense and the national security of the Republic of Bulgaria;

this organizational structure of the service is approved by the Minister of Defense and its activities are defined by Regulations approved by the council of ministers.

Security - military police and military counterintelligence service

Its functions are as follows The basic tasks of "Security - military police and military counterintelligence" service is to maintain the order and security in the Ministry of Defense and in the Bulgarian army. Parallel to that it fulfills the following functions:

  • it provides for the protection of the Ministry of Defense and the Bulgarian army from activities of foreign special services, organizations and persons directed against the security of the Ministry of Defense and the Bulgarian army;
  • carries out activities aimed at maintaining the order in the Ministry of Defense and in the Bulgarian army for the prevention, revealing and investigation of crimes committed in the Ministry of Defense and in the Bulgarian army with view to finding out the perpetrators;

provides guarding and security of activities, sites and persons in the Ministry of Defense and in the Bulgarian army;

  • provides for the control over the observation of the rules for movement on the roads by the drivers of transport vehicles and organized groups of servicemen;
  • conducts activities pertaining to collecting, processing, storage, analyzing, using and providing information related to the maintenance of order and security in the Ministry of Defense and in the Bulgarian army.

The structure of the "Security - military police and military counterintelligence" service is built on territorial principle in accordance with the administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Bulgaria and with the existing organizational and position structure of the Bulgarian army.

List of ministers

No. Name
(Birth–Death)
Portrait Took office Left office Political party
Ministers of Army (1879–1912)
1 Pyotr Parensov
(1843–1914)
17 July 18793 April 1880Imperial Russian Army
2 Paul von Plehwe
(1850–1916)
3 April 188015 April 1880Imperial Russian Army
3 Alexander Timler
(1835–?)
15 April 188017 April 1880Imperial Russian Army
4 Johan Casimir Ehrnrooth
(1833–1913)
17 April 188013 July 1881Imperial Russian Army
5 Vladimir Krylov
(1830–1888)
13 July 188124 April 1882Imperial Russian Army
6 Ivan Lesovoy
(1835–?)
24 April 18823 July 1882Imperial Russian Army
7 Alexander Kaulbars
(1844–1925)
3 July 188219 September 1883Imperial Russian Army
8 Aleksandr Roediger
(1853–1920)
19 September 188326 October 1883Imperial Russian Army
9 Viktor Kotelnikov
(?–?)
26 October 188310 February 1884Imperial Russian Army
10 Mikhail Cantacuzène
(1840–1891)
10 February 18847 March 1885Imperial Russian Army
11 Ivan Weymarn
(1840–1891)
7 March 188522 April 1885Imperial Russian Army
(10) Mikhail Cantacuzène
(1840–1891)
(2nd time)
22 April 188522 September 1885Imperial Russian Army
12 Konstantin Nikiforov
(1856–1891)
22 September 188524 August 1886Bulgarian Army
13 Olimpiy Panov
(1852–1887)
24 August 188628 August 1886Bulgarian Army
14 Danail Nikolaev
(1852–1942)
28 August 188610 July 1887Bulgarian Army
15 Racho Petrov
(1861–1942)
10 July 18871 September 1887Bulgarian Army
16 Sava Mutkurov
(1852–1891)
1 September 188716 February 1891Bulgarian Army
17 Mihail Savov
(1857–1928)
16 February 189127 April 1894Bulgarian Army
(15) Racho Petrov
(1861–1942)
(2nd time)
27 April 189429 November 1896Bulgarian Army
18 Nikola Ivanov
(1861–1940)
29 November 189630 January 1899Bulgarian Army
19 Stefan Paprikov
(1858–1920)
30 January 189931 March 1903Bulgarian Army
(17) Mihail Savov
(1857–1928)
(2nd time)
31 March 19034 May 1907Bulgarian Army
(14) Danail Nikolaev
(1852–1942)
(2nd time)
4 May 190729 March 1911Bulgarian Army
20 Nikifor Nikiforov
(1858–1935)
29 March 191114 January 1912Bulgarian Army
Ministers of War (1912–1947)
20 Nikifor Nikiforov
(1858–1935)
14 January 191214 June 1913Bulgarian Army
21 Stiliyan Kovachev
(1860–1939)
14 June 191311 July 1913Bulgarian Army
22 Georgi Vazov
(1860–1934)
11 July 19134 September 1913Bulgarian Army
23 Kliment Boyadzhiev
(1861–1933)
4 September 191314 September 1914Bulgarian Army
24 Ivan Fichev
(1860–1931)
14 September 191419 August 1915Bulgarian Army
25 Nikola Zhekov
(1864–1949)
19 August 19154 October 1915Bulgarian Army
26 Kalin Naydenov
(1865–1925)
4 October 191521 June 1918Bulgarian Army
27 Sava Savov
(1865–1945)
21 June 191828 November 1918Bulgarian Army
28 Andrey Lyapchev
(1866–1933)
28 November 19187 May 1919Democratic Party
29 Mihail Madzharov
(1854–1944)
7 May 19196 October 1919People's Party
30 Aleksandar Stamboliyski
(1879–1923)
6 October 191924 June 1921Bulgarian Agrarian National Union
31 Aleksandar Dimitrov
(1878–1921)
24 June 192122 October 1921Bulgarian Agrarian National Union
(30) Aleksandar Stamboliyski
(1879–1923)
(2nd time)
22 October 19219 November 1921Bulgarian Agrarian National Union
32 Konstantin Tomov
(1888–1935)
9 November 19219 February 1923Bulgarian Agrarian National Union
(30) Aleksandar Stamboliyski
(1879–1923)
(3rd time)
9 February 192312 March 1923Bulgarian Agrarian National Union
33 Konstantin Muraviev
(1893–1965)
9 February 19239 June 1923Bulgarian Agrarian National Union
34 Aleksandar Tsankov
(1879–1959)
9 June 192310 June 1923Democratic Alliance
35 Ivan Valkov
(1875–1962)
10 June 192311 January 1929Bulgarian Army
36 Nikola Bakardzhiev
(1881–1954)
11 January 192931 January 1931Bulgarian Army
37 Aleksandar Kiselyov
(1879–1964)
31 January 19319 May 1934Bulgarian Army
38 Anastas Vatev
(1881–1967)
9 May 193419 May 1934Bulgarian Army
39 Pencho Zlatev
(1881–1948)
19 May 193421 April 1935Bulgarian Army
40 Stefan Tsanev
(1881–1944)
21 April 193523 November 1935Bulgarian Army
41 Hristo Lukov
(1888–1943)
23 November 193524 January 1938Bulgarian Army
42 Teodosi Daskalov
(1888–1945)
24 January 193811 April 1942Bulgarian Army
43 Nikola Mikhov
(1891–1945)
11 April 194214 September 1943Bulgarian Army
44 Rusi Rusev
(1887–1945)
14 September 19432 September 1944Bulgarian Army
45 Ivan Marinov
(1896–1979)
2 September 19449 September 1944Bulgarian Army
46 Damyan Velchev
(1883–1954)
9 September 194425 September 1946Zveno
47 Kimon Georgiev
(1882–1969)
25 September 194622 November 1946Zveno
48 Georgi Damyanov
(1892–1958)
22 November 194611 December 1947Bulgarian Communist Party
Ministers of People's Defence (1947–1990)
48 Georgi Damyanov
(1892–1958)
11 December 194727 May 1950Bulgarian Communist Party
49 Petar Panchevski
(1902–1982)
27 May 19509 June 1958Bulgarian Communist Party
50 Ivan Mihailov
(1897–1982)
9 June 195817 March 1962Bulgarian Communist Party
51 Dobri Dzhurov
(1916–2002)
17 March 196222 November 1990Bulgarian Communist Party
52 Yordan Mutafchiev
(1940–2015)
22 November 199020 December 1990Bulgarian Socialist Party
Ministers of Defence (1990–present)
52 Yordan Mutafchiev
(1940–2015)
20 December 19908 November 1991Bulgarian Socialist Party
53 Dimitar Ludzhev
(1950– )
8 November 199120 May 1992Union of Democratic Forces
54 Aleksandar Staliyski
(1925–2004)
20 May 199230 December 1992Democratic Party
55 Valentin Aleksandrov
(1946–2008)
30 December 199217 October 1994Non-party
56 Boyko Noev
(1964– )
17 October 199426 January 1995Non-party
57 Dimitar Pavlov
(1937– )
26 January 199512 February 1997Bulgarian Socialist Party
58 Georgi Ananiev
(1950– )
12 February 199721 December 1999Union of Democratic Forces
(56) Boyko Noev
(1964– )
(2nd time)
21 December 199924 July 2001Union of Democratic Forces
59 Nikolai Svinarov
(1958– )
24 July 200117 August 2005National Movement Simeon II
60 Veselin Bliznakov
(1944– )
17 August 200524 April 2008National Movement Simeon II
61 Nikolai Tsonev
(1956– )
24 April 200827 July 2009National Movement for Stability and Progress
62 Nickolay Mladenov
(1972– )
27 July 200927 January 2010GERB
63 Anyu Angelov
(1942– )
27 January 201013 March 2013GERB
64 Todor Tagarev
(1960– )
13 March 201329 May 2013Non-party
65 Angel Naydenov
(1958– )
29 May 20136 August 2014Bulgarian Socialist Party
66 Velizar Shalamanov
(1961– )
6 August 20147 November 2014Non-party
67 Nikolay Nenchev
(1966– )
7 November 201427 January 2017Reformist Bloc
68 Stefan Yanev
(1960– )
27 January 20174 May 2017Non-party
69 Krasimir Karakachanov
(1965– )
4 May 201712 May 2021United Patriots
70 Georgi Panayotov
(1968– )
12 May 202113 December 2021Non-party
71 Stefan Yanev
(1960– )
13 December 20211 March 2022Non-party
72 Dragomir Zakov
(1975– )
1 March 20222 August 2022Non-party
73 Dimitar Stoyanov
(1968– )
2 August 20226 June 2023Non-party
74 Todor Tagarev
(1960–)
6 June 2023IncumbentNon-party

References

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