In connection with the public statement made this morning by Ms. Neli Andreeva, Acting Deputy Director General of “Strategy and Administration“, containing serious accusations of corruption and the existence of a “corruption model“ in the NRIC system, the Minister of Transport and Communications Korman Ismailov provides the following factual information. This was announced by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
As early as 19.02., on the day of his assumption of office, Minister Korman Ismailov issued a written order to all public enterprises in the MTS system to temporarily suspend all payments. The purpose of the ban was to improve the financial discipline of public enterprises and more effective control of the spending of public funds. As it became clear from the statement of Ms. Andreeva, this order was not complied with by the National Railway Infrastructure Company.
On 24.02. by order of the Minister, a comprehensive audit of specific public procurements, concluded contracts and the criteria for distributing funds under indexations of current contracts of companies implementing projects assigned by the National Railway Infrastructure Company was assigned. The inspection is in connection with numerous signals received. The deadline for its completion is 20 working days.
On 02.03. by order of the Minister, Todor Vassilev was dismissed as a member of the Management Board of the National Railway Infrastructure Company and Maria Genova was appointed as an independent member of the Management Board until a competitive procedure is conducted. Ms. Maria Genova is the only appointment to the National Railway Infrastructure Company that Minister Korman Ismailov made, after coordination with his political cabinet.
From 04.03. Ms. Neli Andreeva is absent from work, for which she has duly submitted a sick leave.
Today at 10:30, after the statement made in the national media, Minister Ismailov invited Ms. Andreeva to a meeting with him and the political cabinet of the ministry, at which she should present all the data on corruption schemes in NRIC that she has, but she refused the meeting.
These words and actions of hers raise many questions:
Does her statement to the media as an employee of high integrity, occupying a senior state management position, have a real intention, albeit too late, to fight corruption and the mafia in the sector, or is it a direct media attack on the minister?
It seems that Ms. Andreeva has data with which she incriminates the former management of NRIC, specific individuals and companies in corruption.
In this context, Minister Ismailov asks Ms. Andreeva several questions through the media:
What is the specific “corruption model“ in the National Company “Railway Infrastructure“, how does it function and who are the names of the corrupt individuals who hold and have held managerial and not only managerial positions in the NRIC that she is talking about? Which are the companies that are involved? As an employee in managerial positions in the company for the past six years, did she know about this model and, if not, when did she learn about it? Has she herself contributed to its existence through action or inaction? Does Ms. Andreeva know who the puppeteers in the sector and the gray cardinals in the shadows are? If she knew – Why didn't she publicly signal the same way to previous ministers and the competent institutions?The fight against corruption is not waged with suggestions and innuendos, but with facts, evidence and personal responsibility. Minister Ismailov expects Ms. Andreeva to publicly present her answers, as well as officially all the data she has, and calls on all conscientious employees in the system to submit their signals without fear.
In the last 6 years, Nelly Andreeva has been consecutively:
from 02.12.2019 to 30.10.2021.Director of the Directorate “Strategic Development and Investment Projects“
from 01.11.2021 to 03.02.2022Acting Deputy General Director/ Strategy and Administration
from 02/03/2022 to 02/07/2022Director of the “Strategic Development and Investment Projects” Directorate
from 25/08/2022 to 15/09/2024Director of the “Strategic Development and Investment Projects” Directorate
from 16/09/2024 to 09/03/2026i.d. Deputy General Director/ Strategy and Administration