In the studio of “Face to Face“ was Valtentin Atanasov, former deputy director of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA). He commented on Minister Hristanov's statements about the activities of the agency and the “Kapitan Andreevo“ checkpoint.
“What Mr. Hristanov says is not true“, said Atanasov. “He says that at “Kapitan Andreevo“ the trucks are opened by some people. So, it is regulated – at all border checkpoints, trucks open before the ramps for our official customs control.“
According to him, the accusations about the unloading activity are also false. “Regarding this unloading activity, there is a decision of the Supreme Administrative Court, which canceled the two orders when he was deputy minister, which were issued illegally. After that, seven companies were hired, six applied and were approved. Only one company was refused the unloading activity. This is verifiable – the companies are approved by the Bulgarian Food and Drug Administration and the lists are submitted to the police and the National Security Agency. All people who carry out this activity have been checked by the services“, Atanasov specified.
He added that the checkpoint has two premises for phytosanitary, health and veterinary control of goods, “which are objects under national security and access is like national security zones and all requirements are met“.
When asked about the rumors about “a woman who walks between the trucks“, Atanasov replied: “There is nothing true about what Mr. Hristanov says.“ Atanasov denied the allegations that “Kapitan Andreevo“ has snots or people with nicknames.
Regarding the checkpoint's laboratory, he said: “The thing with the 50 samples is also not true. It is a new laboratory. Academician Denkov personally came to open it. It works perfectly, we have not received a single letter or complaint.“
When asked about alleged repressions against the current director of the Bulgarian Animal Health Agency, Dr. Angel Mavrovski, Atanasov said: “I most categorically state that I have not spoken to, that I have not offered Angel Mavrovski a job, and in Brussels. Neither has anyone from the then management. I guarantee it. I have asked them one by one.“
Regarding the cancellation of Mavrovski's license, he specified: “His license was violated for gross violations of the law on veterinary medical activities. For example, it reports in the VETIS system that he carried out an event - vaccination against the contagious disease "blue tongue", and he was not even at the livestock facility. And this has been proven.“
He added that he does not represent a political force and comes to the studio “as an expert to defend the work of colleagues who work 24/7“.