Rumen Radev

The socialist-backed presidential candidate, Maj Gen Rumen Radev, attended on Sunday a gathering of the "friends of Russia" and addressed the crowd.

Radev spoke of the "hard time in relations between EU and Russia" and argued Bulgaria's role would be to cooperate in overcoming the problem.

Today, BSP is organising a national convention at which the candidate of the party for Vice President is expected to be approved.

Bulgaria's Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov said on Friday funding for the update of military capabilities has been set aside in the budget draft for next year.

This includes installments on the prospective acquisition of new multirole aircraft for the Bulgarian Air Force, but also frigates for the navy.

Bulgarian Air Force Commander Brig Gen Rumen Radev on Wednesday called for the urgent acquisition of new multirole aircraft.

Brig Gen Radev also warned in an interview with public broadcaster BNT on Monday evening that the government's move to have MiG-29 fighters' engines overhauled in Poland was only a temporary solution to the Air Force's problems.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov expressed on Friday support for Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev and blamed the previous governments for the state of the country's air force.

The Bulgarian Air Forces urgently need new multirole aircraft and a decision on the maintenance of currently available MiG-29s, the chair of Parliament's Defense Committee has said.

Parliament's Defense Committee is set to hold a joint meeting with military officials at the Graf Ignatievo military base, Southern Bulgaria, amid calls for urgent measures to address the needs of the country's Air Force.

Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force, Major General Rumen Radev, who had submitted his resignation earlier on Thursday, withdrew it after a conversation with Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

Borisov familiarised himself with the problems of the Bulgarian Air Force, which were pointed as the motives behind the resignation of General Radev.

Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force, Major General Rumen Radev, has reportedly submitted his resignation.

This was reported by daily Sega on Thursday, based on information of the defence ministry, which has been confirmed unofficially.

A statement of the defence ministry on the matter is expected.

Bulgaria will kickstart an acquisition process for a new multipurpose combat aircraft by the end of next month, Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev has said.

The Defence Ministry will submit the respective proposal to the government by 30 June, BGNES news outlet quoted Nenchev as saying on Thursday following a meeting of the parliament's defence committee.