The Council for Electronic Media (CEM) of Bulgaria today selected Milena Milotinova as the new Director-General of Bulgarian National Television (BNT). The decision, reached after a vote on February 20, 2026, saw Milotinova secure three votes in her favor, according to reports from multiple Bulgarian news outlets.
The vote was made possible following a ruling by the Supreme Administrative Court (VAS) which overturned a previous decision to suspend the competition for the BNT director position. Milotinova was one of five candidates initially vying for the post, alongside Svilena Dimitrova, Emil Koshlukov, and Nevena Andonova. A fifth candidate, Sasho Yovkov, withdrew from the competition, reportedly submitting a handwritten letter via BNT service vehicle explaining his inability to attend the final stage due to being outside of Sofia.
CEM members Simona Veleva, Gabriela Naplatanova, and Kadrinka Kadrinova voted in support of Milotinova’s candidacy. Galina Georgieva and Prolet Velkova cast votes against her appointment. The selection concludes a process initiated to find a successor to Emil Koshlukov, who had been serving as interim Director-General of BNT for nearly four years beyond the expiration of his original mandate.
During the selection process, four candidates presented their visions for BNT to the CEM on February 19, 2026. Prior to the vote, the CEM had received three requests to suspend the procedure, citing ongoing legal proceedings. These requests were dismissed, allowing the election to proceed.
Milotinova’s appointment follows a period of uncertainty surrounding the leadership of BNT, marked by legal challenges and a prolonged search for a permanent director. The CEM has not yet announced a date for Milotinova to formally assume her duties.
