Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria
Born on June 13, 1959, in Bankya.
Education
1982: Graduated from the Higher Specialized School of the Ministry of Interior, majored in Firefighting Equipment and Safety, with the rank of lieutenant.
1985-1990(at one point during this period): Defended dissertation, Psycho-physical Training of Operational Staff, for his Ph.D.
Experience
1977-1978: Served in the military forces in the city of Pleven.
1982: Served as platoon commander at Sofia's City Department of the Ministry of Interior.
1985-1990: Worked as a teacher and department head at the Ministry of Interior's Higher Institute of Officer Training and Research.
1991: Established IPPON-1, one of the largest security companies in the country, specialising in protecting production facilities including the mains of Neftekhim oil refinery as well as high profile clients. During the '90s, he protected former leader of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, Todor Zhivkov, who was placed under house arrest. (The latter died in 1998.)
1996-2001: Guarded Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, former Bulgarian monarch and Bulgarian Prime Minister (2001-2005).
2001: Appointed Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior.
2002: Awarded the rank of Major General.
2004: Awarded the rank of Lieutenant General.
2005: Elected deputy of 40th National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria from the National Movement Simeon II, however he returned the seals before taking oath.
2005 (November): Elected Mayor of Sofia.
2006: Founded the political movement GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria), now a political party: GERB was formed on December 3 of the same year, with Boyko Borissov becoming its "informal" leader.
October 2007: Re-elected Mayor of Sofia for the second term.
2009 (July 27): Elected Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria by the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Awards and recognitions
Awarded with medals by various security, defence and law enforcement agencies, including a Russian award (the Medal for Combat Friendship awarded by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation) and the U.S.
Other
Sports enthusiast (in particular, football), black belt in Karate. Chairman of the Bulgarian Karate Federation and an international karate referee.
Personal
Divorced, with a daughter
