A mass purge in the forestry enterprises, which began following the return of GERB and DPS (Peevski) at the helm of the North-Eastern State Enterprise (SIDP), intensifies suspicions that the primary reason for this personnel shake-up is the upcoming early elections.
The North-Eastern State Enterprise (SIDP) is a mammoth organization managing 18 forestry and game reserves across four northeastern provinces. In many of these areas, the forestry enterprise is almost the sole employer for local residents. Therefore, whoever manages SIDP holds significant influence and can serve as a powerful machine for controlling votes, as the enterprise employs nearly 1,000 individuals on labor contracts (991 according to the latest published report by SIDP for 2022). In small municipalities, the appointments often follow the votes of their families.
On July 11, the acting Minister of Agriculture, Georgi Tahov, unexpectedly dismissed the entire Management Board of SIDP, which had been appointed by the government of Nikolai Denkov. The three members of the board who were removed had been in their positions following a competitive selection process and had a five-year mandate for management. Without any justification or explanation, they were fired, and individuals affiliated with GERB and DPS (Peevski) were appointed in their place.
At the helm of the management board is Ilter Beyzatov, a former MP from GERB and the son of Beyzat Yahya, who is extremely close to Boyko Borisov. In practice, Beyzatov inherited his father’s position, as Yahya managed the directorate board of SIDP for over 10 years during GERB’s governments. Ivelin Todorov became the executive director of the enterprise, who, according to forestry employees, is from the “quota” of DPS–Peevski. The third board member, Aysel Mustafa, is also connected with the same “quota.”
Thus, three months before the upcoming parliamentary elections, the management of the powerful structure SIDP was returned to the hands of GERB and DPS (Peevski), and the first reaction from those working in the forestry enterprises was: “They are getting ready for elections!”
The enterprise serves as a major lever for influence in the areas it covers, as it not only provides livelihood for nearly 1,000 employees but also firewood for residents of small towns.
Numerous timber companies depend on SIDP, with which the enterprise signs contracts. Moreover, the workers in these companies usually receive bonuses right before elections. This can be interpreted as a hidden paid vote, but formally everything is legal – private firms give bonuses to their employees, and the coincidence with the elections is explained as pure coincidence.
Who are the dismissed forestry directors?
Just days after the appointment of the new management board of SIDP, dismissals of directors from forestry and game reserves began. The press office of the enterprise has not mentioned a word about the mass changes in forestry leadership. In fact, the press office of SIDP and the press office of the Ministry of Agriculture have yet to respond to “For the Truth” regarding the changes in the management board.
The names of the dismissed estate directors became clear after Democratic Bulgaria MP Stela Nikolova posed a parliamentary question to the agriculture minister about the sweeping personnel changes in SIDP.
In her question, Nikolova asked the acting minister on what grounds the previous members of the directorate board of SIDP, who had passed a competition and had a five-year management mandate, were removed. Minister Tahov completely disregarded this question and, in his written response to the MP, did not mention a word about the reasons for any changes in SIDP. The minister simply informed that, according to the Forest Law, as a representative of the state, he has the right to change the heads of the six state forestry enterprises in the country. He noted that he had issued an order relieving the old directorate board and appointing a new one “to achieve more effective management of SIDP.”
The refers to the regulation for the implementation of the Public Enterprises Act, which states that in the event of the premature termination of a management contract, the state body may directly appoint a new manager until a competition is held. Tahov noted that a competition for the selection of members of the SIDP management board will take place within six months.
Literally two weeks after his appointment, the new director of SIDP, Ivelin Todorov, replaces the heads of three estates. On July 26, the directors of the State Forest Enterprise (DGS) – Vurbitsa, Eng. Zhivko Alexiev, the game preserve “Cherni Lom,” Eng. Georgi Georgiev, and DGS – Omurtag, Eng. Yordan Beychev, were dismissed. They were replaced by Eng. Sava Savov (DGS Vurbitsa) and Eng. Simeon Davidkov (DLS Cherni Lom), while Georgi Georgiev was transferred to DGS – Omurtag.
Changes in the forestry enterprises continued into August. By order dated August 2, Eng. Tsvetelina Milanov was removed as director of the state game preserve “Palamara.” Eng. Musa Kyazim was appointed as the head of “Palamara,” a favorite of Boyko Borissov.
On the same date, Eng. Petar Zhelezov, director of the forestry enterprise in Novi Pazar, was also dismissed. He was replaced by Eng. Kemal Weis.
According to Article 173 of the Forest Act, all newly appointed directors meet the requirements for the position and have signed management contracts for five years, Minister Tahov stated.
According to our information, the director of the forestry enterprise in General Toshevo has already been dismissed. It turns out that within about ten days, the heads of one-third of the forestry and game reserves under SIDP have been changed.
Meanwhile, ordinary forest rangers are watching the continuous director changes with concern. “We are listening to where the wind is blowing because if it blows us away, we will have to move. There’s no other work here,” admits a ranger from a small municipality in Shumen.
