Irena Nikolaeva Gueorguieva

Public record

Compiled from publications and official records as of 18.10.2026. 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

• Meeting with Russian Orthodox Church representatives, 21.10.2016. The Ministry of Tourism announced that deputy minister of tourism Irena Georgieva would meet the delegation, led by Bishop Antony of Bogorodsk, a vicar of the Patriarch. The topic was pilgrimage tourism. Representatives of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church also took part. The meeting took place in the Synod Palace. — Ministry of Tourism, 20.10.2016

Corruption and scandals

• Weekend: police said to be investigating her for corruption (2022), no charge. Police were investigating deputy minister of tourism Irena Georgieva for corruption, according to the weekly Weekend, quoted by Bairak. The paper links the case to beach concession tenders (it says she deliberately left the Rusalka beaches without a concessionaire), over BGN 150m of COVID aid signed by her, and bribes for hotel star ratings. Its sources are anonymous people in the police and the Interior Ministry under caretaker minister Ivan Demerdzhiev. He gave no names; Weekend supplies them. The data would go to the prosecutor when the investigation ends. A related allegation is that she demanded BGN 50,000 a year from a Burgas businessman for a 20-year concession. The article cites no documents. The research found no charge, prosecutor's order or conviction. She was reappointed deputy minister in 2023, 2024 and 2025 and became minister in 2026. — Bairak (citing Weekend), 17.12.2022
• Kliuki.bg: European Public Prosecutor's Office said to probe Ukrainian refugee payments (2024). The European Public Prosecutor's Office is probing payments for accommodating Ukrainian refugees and Georgieva would probably be charged, claims Kliuki.bg (author Ivanina Nikolova). The outlet writes that she "е поставила подписа си под фактурите за нощувките на украинци и при двамата министри" (signed the invoices for the Ukrainians' overnight stays under both ministers) (our translation). It also repeats Weekend's 2022 claim that the Bulgarian prosecutor was investigating her after a signal from the State Agency for National Security (DANS). The article rests on anonymous sources, cites no documents and has no official confirmation from the European Public Prosecutor's Office. Up to 18.10.2026 the institution's announcements for Bulgaria contain no case on the refugee accommodation and no charge against Georgieva. After the article she was again deputy minister of tourism (2025–2026) and from 19.02.2026 caretaker minister. The ministry confirms that she led the administration of the programme. — Kliuki.bg, 22.03.2024
• Kliuki.bg: bribery scheme alleged behind a child's death on a parasail (2025). A bribery scheme run by deputy minister of tourism Irena Georgieva and the head of the ministry's control and inspection directorate lay behind the death of an 8-year-old on a parasail at Nesebar, alleges Kliuki.bg (author Ivanina Nikolova). According to the outlet, bribes of BGN 15,000–50,000 per season were collected through an ex-policeman from Burgas. The claims come from unnamed sources described as informed and in the know. No other outlet confirms them, and the outlet is the only source. The research found no investigation or charge against her. Minister Borshosh said there was no institution that controls extreme attractions. — Kliuki.bg, 23.08.2025

Other

• Hands the ministry to Ilin Dimitrov, 08.05.2026. Tourism minister Ilin Dimitrov of the newly elected cabinet of prime minister Rumen Radev took over the post from the outgoing caretaker minister Irena Georgieva, BTA reports, citing Utro Ruse. This ended her caretaker term. No publication about a new public office was found up to October 2026. — Utro Ruse (citing BTA), 08.05.2026
• bTV: long-serving deputy minister, adviser to Borshosh. Georgieva was deputy minister of tourism from February 2015 to May 2021 and again later, including in Rosen Zhelyazkov's government (2025–2026), says a bTV Novinite profile based on BTA. In February 2026 she was named adviser to minister Borshosh. According to Mediapool, she was the industry's pick for caretaker minister. She was minister from 19.02.2026 to 08.05.2026. — bTV Novinite, 18.02.2026
• Weekend: considered close to Valeri Simeonov when appointed in 2014. She was appointed deputy minister of tourism, and at the time she "минаваше за приближена до Валери Симеонов" (was considered close to Valeri Simeonov) (our translation), the weekly Weekend wrote, quoted by Bairak. The claim rests on anonymous sources, is not backed by documents and is not confirmed by any other source. — Bairak (citing Weekend), 17.12.2022