Another deputy mayor is leaving the team of Shumen mayor Hristo Hristov. On 4 June, it became known that deputy mayor for construction and public works Andrean Vanyov had resigned.
“They are changing so quickly that we can no longer remember their names,” municipal councillors joked.
The new deputy mayor for construction will be engineer Veselin Hristakev, the mayor’s office announced. He will be the fourth person to hold the post since Hristov took office.
The first was architect Nikolay Simeonov, who remained in the position for just seven months before resigning in June 2024. He never publicly explained what had prompted him to leave the new mayor’s team.
He was followed by engineer Lilyana Gaydardzhieva, who lasted even less – just four months, from July to October 2024.
Engineer Andrean Vanyov has so far been the longest-serving construction deputy mayor, holding the position from November 2024 until May 2026.
The new deputy mayor, engineer Veselin Hristakev, will take office on 3 June 2026, according to the municipality. Until now he has headed the Directorate for Spatial Development. His appointment, the mayor’s office says, will ensure “continuity in the management of current infrastructure projects and investment initiatives”.
The municipality said Vanyov was “released at his own request to end his work in the municipal administration for personal reasons”. Mayor Hristo Hristov thanked him “for his contribution to the municipal team and his commitment to carrying out the tasks within his remit”, wishing him health and success in his future professional career.
A revolving door at the top
The staff turnover in Hristov’s team began just days after he took office in November 2023.
In less than three years, the mayor has changed four press officers, six deputy mayors and the municipal secretary. And if he follows the motto of his coalition partner, DPS–New Beginning – “The best is yet to come” – the final year of his term could bring even more changes.
Just two months after Hristov became mayor, his media adviser Kamen Andonov, a university lecturer who had been closely involved with Hristov during his election campaign, resigned. Three more women subsequently held the press secretary role.
Professor Svetla Stankova, deputy mayor for education and culture, also left. She had campaigned alongside Hristov and was later elected as a municipal councillor. Stankova resigned in April 2024, just five months after joining the mayor’s team.
At the end of June 2024, deputy mayor for construction and public works architect Nikolay Simeonov also left, citing personal reasons. The appointment of Hristakev now marks the fourth change in the construction portfolio.
There have also been three deputy mayors in charge of education, science and culture.
After professor Stankova, associate professor Viktoria Kovchazova was appointed. She stayed in the post for less than a year, from 1 July 2024 until the end of April 2025, and resigned for personal reasons – the standard explanation repeatedly given for departures from Hristov’s team.
At the beginning of May 2025, Daniela Savcheva, a former municipal administration expert, was appointed deputy mayor for education and culture. She remains in the position.
There was also a change in the finance portfolio from 1 June 2025. Then-deputy mayor for finance Desislava Petrova was replaced by Baynur Ahmed, who at the time – and subsequently – chaired the local branch of DPS–New Beginning.
His appointment was widely seen as a gesture towards Hristov’s new political ally, Delyan Peevski.
From 21 January 2026, Shumen also has a new municipal secretary. Irina Kyoseva, who came from Sofia, replaced Hristo Pavlov.
For now, there have been no changes in the social and economic portfolios. Deputy mayors Svetoslava Haynova and Nikolay Kolev are the only members of Hristov’s original team still in office.
