Dimitar Stoyanov Gardev

Public record

Compiled from publications and official records as of 22.10.2026. Every statement links to its source; claims made by others are marked as such, with who makes them. Quotations in English are our translation.

Russia

• Before the invasion, saw no danger of an attack on Ukraine. Investor.bg quotes him while talks on Kremlin security guarantees were still under way: "I do not see a serious danger at the moment of Russia invading Ukraine" (our translation). — Investor.bg, January 2022
• Comment on sanctions against Russia. Blitz.bg reports his comment on EU talks on sanctions involving Lukoil owner Vagit Alekperov: "Some of the sanctions have their effect, but it is two-sided" (our translation). He also mentioned Bulgarian reservations about a sanctioned supplier of spare parts for the Sofia metro. — Blitz.bg, July 2026

Corruption and scandals

• Dispute over a claimed post as European Parliament adviser. Mediapool, citing Euractiv Bulgaria, writes that the official ИТН CV described Gardev as an adviser to the European Parliament's AFET and SEDE committees. He replied that he had been an assistant to MEP Elena Yoncheva (БСП) in her Sofia office. Yoncheva, his former employer, called the adviser claim a lie. A source in her office told the outlet that he worked there from July 2019 to February 2021 as a local aide. He told Epicenter that his work had been checked by the European Parliament and rated well. — Mediapool.bg, 07.12.2021
• His father – alleged partnership with Vasil Bozhkov. Bird.bg claimed that Stoyan Gardev was a partner of Vasil Bozhkov, sanctioned by the US under the Magnitsky Act, through Smart Way AD and Bozhkov's Holding Patishta. According to the report, Smart Way AD and Sistera Technology, the firm of Dimitar Gardev, were registered at the same address, 99 Vasil Levski Blvd, Sofia. Other outlets, including 24 chasa, repeated the story. It appeared while ИТН was negotiating the coalition cabinet and Gardev was tipped for foreign minister. Debati.bg writes that ИТН later replaced him as its candidate with Teodora Genchovska. No court case or prosecution against father or son was found. — 24 chasa, 08.12.2021 (citing Bird.bg)
• Linked to allegations over БСП funds in Brussels. Flagman.bg reported that the newly elected ИТН MP had been an aide to Elena Yoncheva (БСП) in the European Parliament, and tied this to the allegation by Barekov's Anti-Corruption Front, a political rival of БСП and of the MEP, that the party's civil quota in Brussels used EU funds for salaries and offices. Yoncheva called it a gross manipulation and, speaking to 24 chasa, defended Gardev, the political scientist Iliya Hristov and the journalist Ivan Garelov. No wrongdoing by him has been established; the allegation was aimed at her office. — Flagman.bg, April 2021

Other

• His father – member of the board of Smart Way AD. Commercial register data, reproduced by papagal.bg, list Stoyan Dimitrov Gardev on the board of directors of Smart Way AD. In 2012 his 50% share in Sistera Technology EOOD passed to Dimitar Stoyanov Gardev, who is listed as a partner and manager. That share was removed on 08.01.2014 and Ventsislav Bechev became sole owner. Bird.bg and Mediapool state that Stoyan Gardev is his father. Bird.bg claimed in 2021 that Dimitar Gardev is owner and director of the firm, but the register shows he is no longer. — papagal.bg (from the Commercial Register), 19.10.2026