Ivan Yanev, who is a MP from "Progressive Bulgaria" and is blind, was accompanied into parliament by his guide dog Rover. Yanev entered parliament from the 24th MIR - Sofia. Rover is a Labrador and became the first dog in the National Assembly, Nova TV reported.
At the age of 6, after an accident with a slingshot and a metal bracket fired by another child and after numerous operations, Yanev lost his sight, writes the official page of "Progressive Bulgaria". He graduated from the school for visually impaired children in Sofia “Louis Braille“. He obtained a higher education in history at the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski“, where he developed and defended his doctoral dissertation on the topic “Bulgaria's Foreign Policy During the Second World War in Bulgarian Historical Literature“. He holds master's degrees in history, pedagogy of the visually impaired, public administration with a profile in state administration, creative writing and sports business. He is a part-time lecturer in specialized and adapted sports for people with visual impairments at the National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski“. Yanev is also a showdown coach.
Author of scientific books and articles, including: “Bulgaria's Foreign Policy During the Second World War in Bulgarian Historical Literature (1938-1944)“, “From the Crescent to the Five-Pointed Star“. Publicistic texts, including: “By the First Roosters. Historical, political and other thoughts“, “The story continues“, “Bulgaria at the major goalball championships (1983-1913)“ Author of the novels: “Phoenix“, “Simargal“, “The Writer“, “The Hermit“, a collection of short stories “The Second Hole in the Overcoat“, etc. The deputy is the chairman of the federation “Sports for People with Visual Impairments“, Sports Club for Integration “Vitosha“, a member of the board of directors of the Union of the Blind in Bulgaria.
Yanev is married, has two daughters and two grandchildren.