MES of Correctional: The Plagiarism Verification against the Rector of the Thracian University begins at first
The author of the two signals – Assoc. Prof. Lazarin Lazarov, a former dean of the Veterinary Faculty of the same university, which was dismissed by the Rector and appealed his order, told the development of the two signals. In parallel with his second signal – from March 28 – he has also referred to the prosecutor’s office for possible concealment by the Minister of Education Prof. Galin Tzokov and officers of the Ministry of Education and Science of a crime.
The beginning of the second inspection confirmed yesterday (April 2) and the Minister of Education Krasimir Valchev before the MPs of the Parliamentary Committee on Education. Tatiana Sultanova -Siveva from « We continue the change – Democratic Bulgaria » asked him if he was familiar with the signal and would he claim the responsibility of Kae for her discontinued actions. In response, the minister explained that the Commission had terminated the proceedings due to the expired statutory deadlines for its implementation after not finding arbitrators to check the disputed habilitation work of Dobri Yarkov, on the basis of which he became a professor.
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« There is a lasting case -law that the deadlines that are set are preclusive, that is, their non -compliance leads to the orders to be canceled by the court, » Valchev explained, assuring that he had gave a check on the second signal, signed an order for his admissibility.
« Probably committed crime remained concealed »
Assoc. Prof. Lazarov provided « Dnevnik » both his signal to KAE and the one to the prosecutor’s office. In the former, he points out that with the refusal of KAE from an examination ordered by the Minister of Education, Prof. Galin Tsokov, « one signal for a probably committed crime against intellectual property and the moral foundations of society remained concealed by the academic community, and probably by the judicial authorities of the Republic of Bulgaria for more than half a year. »
« With the re -signal, I would like to give a chance to the new Minister of Education and Science in the person of Prof. Krasimir Valchev, as well as to the new composition of KAE to show the society and the academic community that they are not burdened with addictions and are ready to defend the legitimacy and honor of the Bulgarian institutions. »
His signal to the Attorney General states that the competent authorities may qualify the committed in the Ministry of Education and Science as « criminal acts committed by certain persons » and exposes the chronology.
Chronology
« On 05/09/2024, a signal was entered in the office of the Ministry of Education and Science (No 94-5312/05.09.2024) on suspicion of the stealing of intellectual property (plagiarism) leading to the benefit of » Dobribi « Professor – Signal. Of a huge amount of evidence, « writes Assoc. Prof. Lazarov.
More than a month later, however, « there were no indications of action taken by the Ministry of Education and Science, and in particular by Minister Galin Tzokov, who in this case was also an employer of the Rector. » Therefore, the associate professor asked a new question and realizes that his signal was identified as admissible, but the substance checks. Instead, on November 12, 2024, the Academic Ethics Committee terminated its consideration on the grounds that it has overdue the statutory 30-day check period without being able to cope with the task.
According to unofficial information, Kae has requested an extension of the term for completion of the inspection and for a pronouncement of an opinion. Extension has been refused, the associate professor claims.
Here, the fact that Prof. Tzokov neither seeks the responsibility of the KAE for the failure to comply within his order, nor takes advantage of the opportunity given to him by the law to extend for another 30 days for completion of the inspection.
« Moreover, the MES does not consider it necessary to notify me of the termination of the work on the plagiarism signal for more than 4 months, » he added, adding that to this day there is no response to his request to be officially notified of the stage of the work on his alert.
« For the termination of the inspection and the reason for this reason, I only understood at 18/03/2025 of the reply of the Ministry of Education and Science with registration No. 19-10/18.03.2025 to the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria. »
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« Is the behavior of the administration of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria » admissible and legal, « Prof. Lazarov Prosecutor’s Office asks and states that » the inaction of an institution of such a rank strikes a heavy blow to the academic norms of higher education in the Republic of Bulgaria and undermines the moral foundation in the country. «
« Personally, I consider the behavior of the Minister of Education and Science – Prof. Galin Tsokov and his team inadmissible, and the assessment of whether the same appears and a constituent of one of the texts of the Criminal Code, I leave to you, » he addresses to IF. Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov, asks him for an inspection and « if, as a result of the same, you find that there is evidence of a crime committed, you will initiate corresponding proceedings against the guilty persons. »
« We are talking every day about reforms in Bulgarian education, about improving the quality of education in Bulgarian schools and universities, about the return of confidence in the Bulgarian education system and more, and more. At the same time. Negative examples have become too much, but you know them better than I do. «
In conclusion, he addresses the Minister of Education: « I am convinced that preserving the authority and restoration of confidence in the Bulgarian institutions and the education system of the Republic of Bulgaria is our common cause and I rely on your active actions in this direction! Please do not dissuade me! ».
« Almost 100% Foreign Texts »: The Ethics Commission received a signal of rector plagiarism
Plagiarism
In essence, the signal of plagiarism refers to the textbook « Genetics, Hereditary Pathology and Breeding of Pets » from 2011 with authors Prof. Ivanka Yotova and Assoc. Prof. Dobri Yarkov. It was through him by Associate Professor Yarkov that he became a professor.
« When comparing the style and content of this textbook with the content of the textbooks » Genetics and Breeding of Agricultural Animals « published by Prof. Dr. Simo Yotsov in 1976 and » Veterinary Medical genetics and breeding of domestic animals « with the author Prof. Dr. Simo Yotsov, 1988 I Assoc. Prof. Lazarov.
Numerous passages from the textbook of Yotova and Yarkov « are completely identical » with the texts in the older textbooks, he writes, adding that the new textbook does not have a list of used literature, « but even if it was indicated, the direct borrowing of foreign text and its presentation as its own work is denied in the academic community. »
Between the electronic textbook of Prof. Yarkov and the two other textbooks, there is « almost 100% foreign texts, » notes Assoc. Prof. Lazarov.
What’s next
If plagiarism is confirmed in Dobri Yarkov’s habilitation work, he should return all the allowances he has received as a professor, explains Prof. Lazarov.
But in his words, there is a more serious consequence – a disciplinary dismissal that would thwart his seamless retirement after June 2, when Yarkov will be the age of it.
« They use legal techniques to provide him with a hassle -free retirement, » said Assoc. Prof. Lazarov to Dnevnik on the occasion of the first -time plagiarism.
