Bulgaria's government has appointed Dimitar Georgiev deputy interior minister, replacing Pavlin Dimitrov, who handed in his resignation a month ago.

Dimitrov decided to leave the post following reports on his collaboration with the country's former Communist secret services.

Prior to his new role, Georgiev was head of the International police cooperation department. He has worked for the interior ministry since 1993, when he started his career as an inspector.

Since late 2006, Georgiev has served as the country's representative at Europol's governing board and the General Assembly of Interpol.