Rumen Radev
| Rumen Radev | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of Bulgaria Elect | |
|
Taking office 22 January 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Boyko Borisov |
| Vice President | Iliana Iotova (Elect) |
| Succeeding | Rosen Plevneliev |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Rumen Georgiev Radev 18 June 1963 Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | Socialist Party (Supported by) |
| Spouse(s) | Desislava Radeva (2016–present) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater |
Bulgarian Air Force University Rakovski Defence and Staff College Air War College |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Bulgaria |
| Service/branch |
 Bulgarian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1987–2016 |
| Rank | Major General |
Rumen Georgiev Radev (Bulgarian: Румен Георгиев Радев; born 18 June 1963) is a Bulgarian Major General of the Reserve and President-elect of Bulgaria. Radev served as Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force.[1] He won the 2016 presidential election, as an independent candidate supported by the Bulgarian Socialist Party, defeating GERB candidate Tsetska Tsacheva in the second round.[2][3]
Biography
Rumen Radev was born on June 18, 1963 in Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria. His family is from Slavyanovo in the Haskovo region. In 1982 he graduated from the Mathematical School in Haskovo with a gold medal. He graduated from the Georgi Benkovski Bulgarian Air Force University in 1987 as the top graduate. In 1992, he graduated from the Maxwell Squadron Officer School in the United States. From 1994 to 1996, he studied at the Rakovski Defence and Staff College, where he was also the top graduate. He is a Doctor of Military Sciences in the field of improvement of tactical training of flight crews and simulation of air combat.
In 2003 he graduated from Air War College in Maxwell AFB in the United States as a Master of Strategic Studies with honors.[1]
Military career
- 1987 – 1988: Junior pilot in the 15th Fighter Aviation Regiment – Ravnets
- 1989 – 1990: Unit deputy commander at the 15th Fighter Aviation Regiment – Ravnets
- 1990 – 1994: Unit commander at the 15th Fighter Aviation Regiment – Ravnets
- 1996 – 1998: MiG-29 squadron commander at the Fifth Fighter Airbase – Ravnets
- 1998 – 1999: Deputy commander for flight preparation at the Fifth Fighter Airbase – Ravnets
- 1999 – 2000: Deputy commander for flight training at the Third Fighter Airbase – Graf Ignatievo
- 2000 – Study of the Air defence of the Republic of Bulgaria – NATO, Brussels
- 2000 – 2002: Chief of Staff of the Third Fighter Airbase – Graf Ignatievo
- 2003 – 2005: Chief of Staff of the Third Fighter Airbase – Graf Ignatievo
- 2005 – 2009: Commander of the Third Fighter Airbase – Graf Ignatievo
- 2009 – 2014: Bulgarian Air Force deputy commander
- 2014 – 2016: Bulgarian Air Force commander
Flight information
- Pilot I-st class.
- Flight experience of L-29, L-39 fighter jets and MiG-15UTI, MiG-17, MiG-21, MiG-29.
- Familiarization flights of the F-15, F-16, F/A-18 Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon, SAAB Gripen.
- Flown over 1400 hours.
- In 2014, he organized aviation show "This we are!" and personally performed the "Bell" and "Pugachev's Cobra" manoeuvres on a MiG-29.[4][5]
Military ranks
- 1987 – Lieutenant
- 1990 – Senior Lieutenant
- 1994 – Captain
- 1997 – Major
- 2000 – Lieutenant Colonel
- 2003 – Colonel
- 2007 – Brigadier General
- 2014 – Major General
Awards
Rumen Radev was awarded numerous medals and prizes, including the sign "For loyal service under the flags" – III degree, and Honorary sign of the Ministry of Defence "Saint George" – II degree.[1]
Politics
In August 2016, the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party and the Alternative for Bulgarian Revival (ABR) officially nominated Radev as a candidate for the November 2016 presidential election.[2][6][7] In the same month, ABR withdrew its presidential nomination of General Radev[8] in favour of Ivaylo Kalfin. On the first round of the election, conducted on November 6, 2016, he managed to win 25.44% of the votes.[9]
He faced GERB candidate Tsetska Tsacheva in the runoff the following Sunday, November 13. He defeated her, winning 59.37% of the popular vote.[10]
Political views
Radev is considered a pro-Russian politician.[11][12]
Family
Radev has two children with his first wife, Ginka, whom he divorced in 2011: Darina (2001) and Georgi (2003). He remarried Desislava Gencheva, ex-wife of BSP MP Georgi Svilenski, and has a stepson with Gencheva.
References
- 1 2 3 ((bg)) Major General Rumen Radev // Department of Defence. Retrieved August 11, 2016
- 1 2 BSP elected Gen. Radev as a presidential candidate with 99 votes, Bulgarian National Radio, Radio "Sofia", August 17, 2016
- ↑ http://www.reuters.com/article/us-bulgaria-election-exitpoll-idUSKBN1380Q7?il=0
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7IQVegVhrOzDWorXwvA4Nw – Bulgarian Air Force
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWGjdtKv2kk – Flight Video & Photo
- ↑ BSP officially nominated gen. Rumen Radev for the presidential elections, "Dnevnik", August 17, 2016
- ↑ ABR officially nominated gen. Rumen Radev for the presidential elections too, BNT, August 17, 2016
- ↑ Counterstrike of ABR – it withdrew its support for General Rumen Radev, Nyuz.bg author: Dilyana Panajotova, August 24, 2016
- ↑ "Резултати за президент и вицепрезидент на републиката". cik.bg. Central Electoral Commission. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ↑ "Резултати за президент и вицепрезидент на републиката". cik.bg. Central Electoral Commission. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ↑ "Pro-Russia candidate wins Bulgaria's presidential run-off". euronews.com. 13 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
- ↑ "Bulgaria Faces Uncertainty After Election Of Pro-Russia President". rferl.org. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
External links
-
Media related to Rumen Radev at Wikimedia Commons
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rosen Plevneliev |
President of Bulgaria Elect Taking office 2017 |
Incumbent |