Ivan Paligorov, Phd
Deputy Minister
Professor Ivan Paligorov, PhD, graduated from the University of Forestry with a degree in Forestry. His scientific interests lie in the fields of forest economics and management, forest policy, sustainable development, and forest valuation. His professional career has been closely tied to the University of Forestry since 1990, when he began as an Assistant Professor. In 1997, he was appointed Associate Professor in the Department of Resource Management and Environmental Protection, and in 2012, he attained the academic rank of Full Professor. His leadership experience at the university includes terms as Vice Dean and Dean of the Faculty of Business Management, as well as Vice Rector of the University of Forestry. Professor Paligorov has completed specialized training in Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom, focusing on forest economics, management, and policy.
He is the author and co-author of over 160 scientific publications and 12 books, including textbooks, monographs, and manuals. He has led or participated in 34 research projects and represents Bulgaria in the FAO (UN) international team of specialists on forest policy for Central and Eastern Europe.
For over three decades, Professor Paligorov has been an active member of the Union of Foresters in Bulgaria. A member since 1986, he joined its Executive Board in 1996 and has served as its Chairman since 2009.
From February 2 to May 12, 2017, he served as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, overseeing the Forestry portfolio.
He is fluent in English and Russian and has a working knowledge of German.
Krum Nedelkov
Deputy Minister
Prof. Krum Nedelkov, PhD, is an established expert in the field of veterinary medicine and animal science. In 2005, he graduated with a Master’s degree in Veterinary Medicine from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Trakia University, Stara Zagora. His academic career began in 2006 when, following a competitive selection process, he was appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Nutrition, Dietetics, and Veterinary-Sanitary Expertise of Feeds. In 2011, he was promoted to Chief Assistant Professor. He successfully defended his doctoral dissertation in 2013, obtaining the academic rank of Associate Professor, and in January 2024, he was appointed Full Professor of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics.
In two consecutive years, Professor Nedelkov completed two research fellowships in ruminant nutrition at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). While in the United States, he actively participated in organizing numerous research experiments aimed at improving livestock feeding methods and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in dairy farming.
At the beginning of 2020, Prof. Nedelkov was elected Vice Dean for Academic Affairs of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Trakia University, a position he held until early 2024.
Between 2021 and 2023, Prof. Krum Nedelkov, PhD, served as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food across four caretaker governments. He has also been involved in a wide range of national and international research projects. Prof. Nedelkov has authored more than 70 publications in peer-reviewed international journals, with his work receiving over 600 citations.
He is fluent in English.
Yanislav Yanchev
Deputy Minister
Yanislav Yanchev possesses extensive administrative experience. He holds a Master’s degree in Ecology and Environmental Protection from the University of Forestry in Sofia.
For more than 15 years, Yanchev’s professional career has been closely tied to the State Fund "Agriculture" (SFA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
From 2008 to 2024, he worked within the Direct Payments Directorate at the SFA. He began as an expert and was later appointed Head of the "Processing and Authorization of Aid Applications" Sector, and subsequently, Head of the "Implementation of Area-Based Schemes and Measures" Department. He has also held the position of Head of the "Direct Payments" Department within the Direct Payments and Quality Schemes Directorate at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
From 2024 to 2025, Yanislav Yanchev served as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food.
Krasimir Chakarov
Deputy Minister
Krasimir Chakarov holds a Master’s degree in International Relations with a specialization in European Union Law from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". He also earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in Management of Forest Industry Enterprises, from the University of Forestry, where he previously completed his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Management of Forestry Enterprises.
He began his professional career in 2009 as a trainee auditor in the Internal Audit Directorate of the State Fund "Agriculture" – State Fund Agriculture - Paying Agency (SFA-PA), becoming an internal auditor in 2011. In 2012, he was appointed Chief Internal Auditor within the same directorate. Since 2015, he has held the position of Head of the Management Consulting and Monitoring Department in the Internal Audit Directorate.
Chakarov has participated in numerous conferences, seminars, working groups, and training programs. He possesses extensive and in-depth knowledge of European legislative requirements regarding agricultural financing funds, specifically the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).