Vassil Todorov Kalinov

Public record

Compiled from publications and official records as of 05.11.2026. Every statement links to its source; claims made by others are marked as such, with who makes them. Quotations in English are our translation.

Corruption and scandals

• Defence of the forest swaps. In an interview with Agro.bg, as chair of the parliamentary agriculture committee, he says: „замяната на гори и земи е напълно законен и резонен от гледна точка на горското дело процес“ (our translation: "the swapping of forests and land is a fully lawful and reasonable process from the point of view of forestry"), because the state as a rule gives low-productivity forests and land and receives high-quality stands. As an example he cites 70 decares swapped in Strandzha for 1,600 decares of valuable forest with rare species. He expects legislative changes under which swaps would be made only in two cases: to end co-ownership between the state and natural or legal persons, and in fulfilment of obligations under international treaties. — Agro.bg, 18.11.2008
• Demand to lift his immunity. Bivol writes that the environmental coalition За да остане природа (To Keep Nature) accused him of „организирана политическа престъпност“ (our translation: "organised political crime"), and that an open letter to ДАНС, the Chief Prosecutor and other institutions demanded „снемане на депутатския имунитет на Калинов и неговото разследване“ (our translation: "lifting Kalinov's parliamentary immunity and investigating him"). According to the letter, the grounds are the bill amending the Forest Act, which he sponsored. Bivol adds that instead of a check and investigation he was appointed by President Georgi Parvanov ambassador to Azerbaijan. — Bivol (ivo.bg), 17.04.2011

Other

• Ambassador to Azerbaijan. AZERTAC, citing the Bulgarian president's press service, reports that Vasil Kalinov has been appointed extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Bulgaria to Azerbaijan and will arrive in Baku in mid-January. He replaces Ivan Palchev, whose mission ended in July 2008. — AZERTAC, 10.01.2009