The plane crash in "Graf Ignatievo" is a shock to everyone. Two of our best pilots, instructors of future pilots, died.
This is what the former Minister of Defense Velizar Shalamanov said on the air of the program "The Day ON AIR".
"Minister Zapryanov acted sensibly with the days of mourning, in which we must realize, bowing before these victims, that these are people who risked their lives for our security. We also owe them a clear responsibility. We lost a pilot three years ago, now two more. It is important to provide the best conditions after we say goodbye to these pilots - to conduct an objective investigation. Today is the time to bow our heads before this loss", insisted Shalamanov to Bulgaria ON AIR.
According to him, politicians should not use the army and people in uniform for PR and political projects.
"This tragedy should lead to a profound change in the way our Air Force is developed, at a minimum. A lot of money is being invested, many people are making efforts," the former defense minister stressed.
"It is difficult, when there are dozens of varieties of aircraft equipment of several units, to maintain the corresponding competence of technicians, companies. Let the conversation be meaningful after these three days. The requirements cannot be for 100-200 flight hours, and with us they are much less. New equipment is about to arrive. Our army will not improve by organizing another air show and we will demonstrate something with single planes and helicopters," Shalamanov reminded.
Decisions must be made very thoroughly, he urged.
FACTS recalls: Over the past 35 years, the Bulgarian political class has been slowly and with sadistic methodical destruction of the Bulgarian Army and, in particular, the Bulgarian Air Force.
Bulgarian politicians have no right to judge anyone but themselves for Bulgarian soldiers who died in accidents.