Delyan Peevski has been restored at his post as Deputy Minister for Disaster Management at the insistence of Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev told journalists on December 6.

Stanishev said that Peevski had been removed after serious allegations against him, BTA said.

On May 5, Stanishev fired Peevski from the post of Deputy Minister for Disaster Management. Stanishev’s decision was a result of the so-called Ovcharov-Alexandov affair when Roumen Ovcharov, then Economy Minister, and Angel Alexandrov, then head of the National Investigative Service, accused each other of corruption. Both left their posts together with Peevski and Kornelia Ninova, one of Ovcharov’s deputies. Peevski (27) was accused by Hristo Lachev, head of state-owned tobacco giant Bulgartabac, of trying to unlawfully put pressure on him.

An examination by the prosecution did not lead to a formal investigation. The position of MRF was, since there was no formal accusation or investigation, there was no reason for the situation to continue, Stanishev said on December 6.

MRF was a coalition partner and was responsible for its representatives in the executive powers, Stanishev said.