Vladimir Milchev Nikolov

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

• Ukraine. As deputy chair of the Progressive Bulgaria group, Nikolov quoted the words of President Iliana Iotova at the UN General Assembly: "There must be peace in Ukraine and it must be achieved through diplomatic negotiations, because the war cannot be resolved by military means" (our translation). The words are Iotova's; the governing majority was answering opposition criticism of a discrepancy between Iotova and the government over a declaration of support for Ukraine. — News.bg, 25.09.2026
• East and West. In his first interview as a Progressive Bulgaria candidate, on BNT, Nikolov, asked about his preferences on the East-West axis, said: "We should not divide into East and West. We are Europe. I want Bulgaria to have a say in where Europe goes, and not to do whatever Merkel says." (our translation) — Club Z, 19.03.2026

Corruption and scandals

• Tax debt. BIRD claims that on 13.12.2024 Nikolov transferred his 47.5% stake in NEST Bulgaria OOD, which had already accumulated debts to the treasury, to the British company AKY GLOBAL LTD, registered in 04.2024 with 100 pounds of capital by the manager of NEST Bulgaria and later struck off by the British authorities. BIRD calls the British firm a "straw person"; as of May 2026 NEST Bulgaria owes the National Revenue Agency almost 60 thousand euro. No official check is mentioned, and the piece carries no reply from Nikolov. — BIRD, 15.05.2026
• Doping. Sega reports that, according to a document in the archive of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Nikolov was found to have used doping at the London 2012 Olympics: on re-testing in 2019, his sample of 29.07.2012 contained a methyltestosterone metabolite. By a decision of 15.10.2020, published on the CAS website only in 2023, CAS found him guilty and ordered him to return the Olympic diploma and pin; Bulgaria was not disqualified. Nikolov told CAS he never used doping intentionally. — Sega, 10.10.2023
• Profession. Mediapool reports that the parliament's website first gave Nikolov's profession as "journalist", then as "teacher". Sources from Progressive Bulgaria told Mediapool that both were a "technical error" and that he was a volleyball player, then a coach, as well as a guest lecturer at universities. — Mediapool, 01.06.2026
• The advert. In March 2026 the Electronic Media Council stated that candidates' appearances in TV adverts could undermine equal treatment of candidates. Nikolov, Progressive Bulgaria's list leader in Plovdiv, told Mediapool that the probiotics advert featuring him had been taken off air and had not been broadcast since the start of the campaign on 20 March; Mediapool readers reported having seen it many times in recent days. — Mediapool, 24.03.2026