There is no and there will be no place for rigged competitions, for covering up corruption practices or for formal inspections in the Ministry of Transport and Communications. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov during parliamentary control today in response to a question from MPs Stoyan Taslakov and Emil Yankov from "Vazrazhdane" about rigged competitions in the Executive Agency “Automobile Administration“, reported by BTA.
Karadzhov noted that the topic being raised concerns one of the most sensitive issues - the trust of citizens in state competitions and the integrity of the administration.
Regarding the case referred to in the question, Karadzhov explained that in April, publications and photos appeared on social networks, which were claimed to represent possible tests given in advance to candidates for inspectors in the Executive Agency “Automobile Administration“, adding that even then the agency had conducted its own internal investigation, which was completed in July and which did not establish evidence of such tests being provided or paid answers. Karadjov explained that neither the report for the inspection nor the inspection itself went through him as minister.
In early October, when a new report was received, which officially claimed specific names, dates and documents, signed by a person known to us as “Krasi the Spaniard“, we undertook a full and independent inspection outside the agency, Karadjov pointed out. The minister added that within just 24 hours of receiving the report, filed with the ministry on October 8, it was forwarded to the prosecutor's office with his letter with an outgoing number of October 9. Karadjov also pointed out that in parallel with this, by his order of October 17, he ordered his own and independent inspection through the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
He added that the deadline for preparing the report is December 8 and the results will be publicly available and presented to the National Assembly. Karadjov also said that at his insistence, all employees mentioned in the signal have been removed from participating in any competitive and control activities until the completion of the inspection.
Minister Karadjov explained that the “Automobile Administration“ is obliged to provide the prosecutor's office and the inspectorate with all original documents, copies of tests, protocols and orders. This is no longer an internal inspection of themselves, this is an inter-institutional process in which the ministry, the inspectorate and the prosecutor's office participate, he pointed out.
Grozdan Karadjov also said that today he is to sign a contract with the non-governmental organization “Transparency without Borders“ and they, as an external independent auditor, will also be able to verify such signals.
The Minister noted that this case is not isolated and stated that in recent months the Ministry has been pursuing a very consistent policy to eradicate corruption practices in the Executive Agency “Automobile Administration“. It is no coincidence that the attacks against the management and against me personally have also become more frequent. I can safely say that the corrupt are shouting “hold the corrupt“, Minister Karadzhov also said.