Nikolai Tsonev
Nikolay Georgiev Tsonev (Bulgarian: Николай Георгиев Цонев; born 9 June 1956) is a Bulgarian officer, entrepreneur and politician from the National Movement for Stability and Progress after 2012 – from party New alternative. From 2008 to 2009 he was Minister of Defense.
Nikolay Tsonev | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 24 April 2008 – 27 July 2009 | |
| Prime Minister | Sergei Stanishev |
| Preceded by | Veselin Bliznakov |
| Succeeded by | Nickolay Mladenov |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 June 1956 Pernik, Bulgaria |
| Political party | Bulgarian Communist Party (before 1989)
Independent (1989–2001) NMSP (2001–2012) New Alternative (2012–present) |
| Profession | Military, politician, businessman |
Biography
Nikolay Tsonev was born on 9 June 1956 in Pernik. He graduated National Military Artillery School "Georgi Dimitrov" specialty "flak" from 1978 is an officer in the Bulgarian People's Army. During the 1986–1989 year studying at the Soviet military academy in Kiev. In 1992 dismissed from the army.
In subsequent years Tsonev participate in the management of several companies, including producer of bread "Nilana." In 1996 he graduated in accounting from the University of National and World Economy, and in 2005 – philosophy at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".
From 1999 to 2000 Nikolay Tsonev headed "Management of supply" in the Ministry of Defence. In 2001 he became an adviser to Defence Minister Nikolay Svinarov and in 2002 headed the agency for social activities to the ministry. On 24 April 2008 he was appointed defense minister in the government of Sergei Stanishev and held that post until a change of cabinet of 27 July 2009.[1]
On 24 June 2012 the Constituent Assembly GOP "New Alternative" was elected chairman of the party. The party is centrist orientation and professed patriotic liberal ideas.
Allegations and cases
In the months following the end of his tenure as defense minister, Nikolay Tsonev was investigated for abuses during his rule of the Ministry of Defence. On 1 April 2010 spectacular was arrested and charged with offering a bribe to an investigator at the time of his arrest deputy city prosecutor Roman Vasilev called Tsonev "absolute criminal". On 28 October 2012 he was acquitted by Sofia City Court on that charge.
On 1 June 2012 Tsonev was acquitted by the Supreme Court in another case – to conclude a four unprofitable transactions in 1999 when the head of "Management of supply" in the Ministry of Defence.
Tsonev was convicted of attempting to bribe a magistrate.[2][3] This has been cited as a key case of evidence of general corruption in Bulgaria's economy.[4] and in August 2015 ordered the prosecution of second instance to pay him compensation amounting to 15 thousand Bulgarian lev.
References