Petya Parvanova

Parvanova was born in Sofia on 12 July 1960.^[1] She holds a bachelor's degree in German philology, which she received from Sofia University in 1991.^[2] She received a master's degree in law from New Bulgarian University in 1998.^[2]

From 1978 to 1981 Parvanova was an administrator at Balkantourist.^[2] From 1982 to 1991 she served as an interpreter at the East German embassy in Sofia.^[2] Later she worked as an assistant and translator at various companies. From 1999 to 2001 she served as the head of the international relations and protocol sector at the Prosecutor-General's office.^[2] In 2001, Purvanova was named as the deputy director at the same body, and later, she became the director of international cooperation at the interior ministry.^[2] She was promoted to the rank of police general.^[3]

On 12 March 2013, she was appointed interior minister to the caretaker government led by Marin Raykov. She became the first woman interior minister of Bulgaria.^[4] Her term ended on 29 May 2013 when Tsvetlin Yovchev was appointed interior minister.^[5]

For the duration of her service at the Ministry of the Interior, she was awarded many times for high performance service and professionalism with medals and honors – "for valor and merit", first degree in 2007. In 2010 she was awarded with category A – senior commissioner.

In March 2016 she was appointed Chairperson of the State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers of Republic of Bulgaria.

On 9 May 2019, she was awarded the Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honor.