On April 19, Bulgaria conducted its eighth National Assembly elections since 2021.
The Russian government has expressed positive reception to future Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s remarks on fostering pragmatic dialogue with Russia, as reported by the press secretary of the Russian President, Dmitry Peskov.
“We are notably impressed by Mr. Radev’s statements, who triumphed in the elections, alongside several other European leaders expressing their preparedness to resolve issues through pragmatic dialogue with Russia,” Peskov remarked.
The Bulgarian elections on April 19 yielded surprising results. Radev’s party, Progressive Bulgaria (PB), secured 44.6% of the seats in the 52nd National Assembly, amounting to 131 deputies—an anticipated victory but with unexpectedly impressive results.
“We voted earnestly, overcoming apathy, yet the distrust in Bulgarian politics remains significant. This is merely the beginning of restoring the social contract. ‘Progressive Bulgaria’ achieved an unequivocal victory. It’s a triumph of hope over distrust, of freedom over fear, and fundamentally, a victory of morality. The people dismissed the complacency and arrogance of the old parties, resisting lies and manipulation. Thank you for your trust! We’ll discuss everything post final results,” Radev shared on Facebook.
“I extend my gratitude to every Bulgarian citizen supporting ‘Progressive Bulgaria’. Special thanks to those who stood by me for nearly a decade, and my entire team. I appreciate all citizens who realized their responsibility and voted conscientiously, irrespective of affiliation. I also thank our compatriots abroad who patiently queued to demonstrate their dedication to Bulgaria. Appreciation is due to the committees and services facilitating these elections, especially the Ministry of Internal Affairs, for their immense efforts against the disgraceful ‘vote buying’ phenomenon in Bulgaria,” Radev further expressed.
Biographical notes: Rumen Georgiev Radev is a Bulgarian political figure and former military Major General, serving as the 5th President of Bulgaria since January 22, 2017. Throughout his military career, Radev, a pilot, rose to Major General, ultimately heading the Bulgarian Air Force from 2014 to 2016. He was elected President of Bulgaria in both 2016 and 2021. On January 20, 2026, nearly a year before his term’s conclusion, Radev submitted his resignation, which the Constitutional Court accepted on January 23.
Rumen Radev was born on June 18, 1963, in Dimitrovgrad.
Education:
1982 – Mathematics High School – Haskovo
1982-1987 – Air Force Academy – Dolna Mitropolia
1992 – Squadron Officer Course, Maxwell, USA
1994-1996 – Command and Staff Academy – VA – “G. S. Rakovski”
2000 – Doctor of Military Sciences, focusing on improving flight crew tactical training and air combat simulation
2002-2003 – Maxwell Air Force College, USA
Military career:
1987-1988 – Junior Pilot in the 15th Fighter Aviation Regiment – Ravnets
1989-1990 – Deputy Unit Commander in the 15th Fighter Aviation Regiment – Ravnets
1990-1994 – Unit Commander in the 15th Fighter Aviation Regiment – Ravnets
1994-1996 – Trainee at the G.S. Rakovski Air Force Academy
1996-1998 – MiG-29 Squadron Commander in the 5th Fighter Aviation Regiment – Ravnets
1998-1999 – Deputy Commander for Flight Training of the 5th Fighter Aviation Regiment – Ravnets
1999-2000 – Deputy Commander for Flight Training of the 3rd Fighter Aviation Regiment – Graf Ignatievo
2000-2002 – Chief of Staff of the 3rd Fighter Aviation Regiment – Graf Ignatievo
2002-2003 – Trainee at the Maxwell Air Force College, Alabama, USA
2003-2005 – Chief of Staff of the 3rd Airborne Division – Graf Ignatievo
2005-2009 – Commander of the 3rd Airborne Division – Graf Ignatievo
2009-2011 – Deputy Chief of the Air Force
2011 – Deputy Commander of the Air Force
Flight information:
1st Class Pilot
Experience on L-29, L-39, MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-21, MiG-29; logged over 1,400 flight hours.
Ranks:
1987 – Lieutenant
1990 – Senior Lieutenant
1994 – Captain
1997 – Major
2000 – Lieutenant Colonel
2003 – Colonel
2007 – Brigadier General
Orders and awards:
Order of Merit “For Faithful Service under the Banners” – III degree; various medals and awards
Language proficiency: Fluent in English, German, and Russian
Marital status: Married, with two children.
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