The Council of Ministers gave its consent to Russia to open its consulate in Plovdiv. The consulate would be headed by an honorary consular official and its consular district would comprise the territory of the regions of Plovdiv, Smolyan, Kurdjali, Haskovo and Stara Zagora, the government press service announced on December 27.

Russia's choice for the honorary consular position was businessman and executive director of the International Fair – Plovdiv Georgi Gergov, mediapool.bg said.

Gergov was close to President Georgi Purvanov and to some circles of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), among which those around Interior Minister Roumen Petkov. Gergov was particularly close to former mayor of Plovdiv Ivan Chomakov, to whom he was said to owe his strong positions in Plovdiv and the economic structures of the city.