Balgarianovinite.com A targeted reform of the State Agency for National Security (SANS) is needed to enhance the institution’s capacity and strengthen its capabilities and resilience, Plamen Tonchev, the sole candidate for chair of the agency, said during his hearing before Parliament’s Committee on Internal Security and Public Order.
Tonchev described the task as challenging but warned that unless SANS evolves into a modern, flexible institution capable of responding effectively to the changing security environment, existing risks could develop into internal threats to Bulgaria’s national security.
Tonchev is the only nominee for the post and was put forward by the Council of Ministers. He previously headed SANS after being appointed in May 2021, when the mandate of then-chair Dimitar Georgiev was terminated early. Before Tonchev’s term expired in April 2023, the government adopted a decision proposing that then president Rumen Radev reappoint him to the position. In 2025, Tonchev stepped down at his own request and, later that May, Parliament elected him chair of the Commission for the Disclosure of Documents and the Announcement of Affiliation of Bulgarian Citizens to the State Security Services and the Intelligence Services of the Bulgarian People’s Army, commonly known as the Files Commission.
Asked why he had decided to return to SANS and whether he had been pressured into requesting his earlier dismissal, Tonchev said no pressure had been exerted on him. “I am the government’s nominee; I am not applying for the position,” he said. “Apparently, after my departure and the year and two months that have passed, the country’s leadership concluded that I am still needed at SANS.”
Tonchev also denied media reports suggesting that either he or his son had procedural status in any criminal proceedings. He said neither of them had ever been summoned for questioning.
Commenting on the use of special intelligence means, Bulgaria’s legal term for covert surveillance techniques, Tonchev said that during his previous tenure as SANS chair, the agency had not sought authorization to use such measures against members of the judiciary.
He also maintained that SANS has remained politically neutral, including under his own leadership.
At the start of the committee meeting, lawmakers rejected a proposal by Continue the Change MP Boyko Rashkov that the hearing be held before Parliament’s committee overseeing the intelligence and security services instead of the Committee on Internal Security and Public Order.
Tonchev’s nomination for SANS chair was formally presented by Ivo Hristov. SANS Requires Reform to Strengthen Capacity and Resilience, Chair Nominee Plamen Tonchev Says 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-07-16 14:49:22 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law