Vanyo Mitev: “I have nothing in common with the illegal admission of students into the Medical University.“
The former rector of Sofia Medical University, Vanyo Mitev, denied having any involvement with the crime group charged with illegal admission of students into higher education institution which is being investigated by the prosecutors’ office. He is also indicted in another matter, for which, there is a hearing today.
Several days ago, the prosecutor’s office announced that there was illegal admission of foreign students, which placed in danger the national security of Bulgaria. Moreover, there was evidence for mismanagement of public funds, concerning the admission of 20 students.
“These students were admitted for the 2017 / 2018 academic year”, says Mitev, and specified that he was the rector up until 2016. In his opinion, the prosecutor’s office and the investigative authorities should pay more attention and investigate the informant who provided this information. Mitev was categorical that there is no reason for anyone to give EUR 50 000 to be enrolled as a student, especially if their documents are in order and not falsified, the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency reports.
In Mitev’s opinion, Sofia Medical University is the most successful university in Bulgaria, and, during the last 8years, when he was the rector; the university was among the highest ranking ones.
One of the witnesses, Anastas Tsikandelov, who is among six people under investigation for illegal admission of 20 students, is free against bail in the amount of BGN 200 000, as is his wife and son. Tsikandelov’s firm’s main activity was the recruitment of students from abroad, which it still continues to do. Each year about 300 students were recruited for universities all over the country, whose documents were checked and reviewed by the higher education institutions. That is why, in his opinion, no corruption could have existed.
Tsikandelov contests the accusation, according to which British citizens were supported and helped to receive permanent residence status in Bulgaria.
He admits that he was harsh with his words towards the investigative bodies, but he has never threatened anyone, as was declared by the prosecutor’s office. He also added that he has apologized to the investigators, but all of that happened because his son was in tears. In order to support his son, Tsikandelov said to him: “The one who has made my son cry, will cry bloody tears”.
Tsikandelov assumed that the accusations came from a man inside the Medical University, but refused to give simple answer if this is Aleksey Alekseev – co-charged with Vanyo Mitev. However, he explained that this is a person from the Department of Education.
The prosecutor’s office, however, disagrees that everything with Tsikandelov’s company has been in order.
Aleksey Alekseev denied that he is the figure behind the other investigation, saying that he has never approved students at and for admission. No payments are made to the Chancellor’s office of the Medical University; this is the faculties’ responsibility. The Medical University’s management only notifies the deans, that the students have proper documents and that they are in order.