New Appointment Sparks Concerns Over Clarity and Potential Conflicts of Interest

A recent appointment to the board of directors of “Highway Studies,” a state-owned company already under scrutiny for its involvement in controversial in-house contracts related to the Hemus highway project, has ignited public debate. kamen Manev,a former State Security Intelligence officer,was appointed to the board on March 26,2025,by Regional Minister Ivan Ivanov (BSP),according to official records.

This development coincides with growing public anger over road safety issues. Just days ago, Nikolay Popov, whose 12-year-old child tragically died in an accident on the Siana road, publicly demanded the immediate resignation of the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) board, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and reform in the sector.

Lack of Transparency and Public notification

Despite the meaning of this appointment, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW) did not issue a public announcement. Instead,they focused on communicating Minister Ivanov’s directive to audit the RIA and replace the management of the Regional Road Administration in Pleven pending the examination’s outcome.The MRDPW’s announcement notably omitted the specific identities of those removed, although it’s known that Yordan Parvanov, the director of OPU-Pleven, has been hospitalized since late 2024.

Who is Kamen Manev? A Look at His Background

Born in Sofia in 1957, Kamen Manev’s career trajectory includes a important stint in the First General Directorate of State Security, the foreign-political intelligence arm of the former communist regime’s Secret Police. Declassified archives reveal that he attended a five-month KGB Intelligence school in the USSR,starting in August 1989,placing him in Moscow during the pivotal events of the communist coup on November 9,1989.

Manev’s profile rose during the GERB administration, where he held leadership positions in various state and municipal companies, some of which were marred by controversy. He served as the Executive Director of the Sofia Municipal Company “Sofiyski Properties” from 2009 to 2012 and held a management role at Sofiyska Voda during the same period. These appointments were reportedly facilitated by Andrei Ivanov, then chairman of the Sofia City Council, with whom Manev had close ties through the Ministry of Interior. However, Manev was replaced in both positions following Ivanov’s dismissal from the SOC chairmanship.

Until recently, Manev also served on the Supervisory Board of “Bulgarian Vic Holding,” another state-owned entity established by Boyko Borisov with substantial capital.He joined its management in May 2024, during Dimitar Glavchev’s tenure as prime Minister, allegedly at the suggestion of Delyan Peevski, leader of MRF New Beginning. Their connection stems from their involvement in the Business Union of Private Entrepreneurs in Bulgaria, which also included controversial figures like the late businessman Iliya Pavlov and Vasil Bozhkov, who has faced sanctions for alleged corruption.

Moreover, in 2019, Manev chaired the committee responsible for selecting the route of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline through Bulgaria, a process that was also plagued by scandals and required intervention from then-Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

Concerns Over In-House Contracts and Transparency

Manev’s appointment to the “Highway Studies” board raises concerns, particularly given the company’s history of securing in-house contracts. The decision, made by Regional Minister Ivan ivanov on March 26, 2025, led to the removal of Konstantina Atanasovska from the board to accommodate Manev, according to Commercial Register documents.

The day after manev’s appointment, a contract was published in the public procurement Register, revealing that the road agency had entrusted “Highway Studies” with marking three districts: North Central, Southwest, and south Central. The contract, signed on March 25, the day before Manev’s appointment, is valued at BGN 59 million excluding VAT, with an 18-month execution period. This amount is considered substantial,especially when compared to the estimated price of contracts for one area over four years,which is around BGN 35 million. For context, the previous five-year contracts from 2020 were worth BGN 63 million for the entire country.

Just before the signing of this in-house contract, the head of the Road Agency, Eng. Yordan Valchev, defended the practice on BTV, citing delays in the auction process. In this case, the in-house procedure is a good solution to assign a company to perform these markings during this time, valchev argued, adding that no other in-house procedures were currently planned.

The lack of publicly available information about the qualifications of “Highway Studies” executives, with the exception of Executive Director Eng. Ivan stanchev, further fuels concerns about transparency and accountability.

Expert Analysis: Potential Implications

Industry experts suggest that Manev’s appointment could signal a shift in the company’s strategic direction, potentially prioritizing political connections over technical expertise. The appointment of individuals with backgrounds in intelligence, rather then engineering or construction management, raises questions about the government’s priorities for this critical infrastructure project, notes Dr. Elena Petrova, a leading expert in public procurement and infrastructure development.

The timing of the appointment, coinciding with heightened public scrutiny of road safety and infrastructure projects, adds another layer of complexity to the situation. The public is demanding greater transparency and accountability in the management of public funds, particularly in sectors like road construction, where corruption and mismanagement have been persistent problems, adds Petrova.