Rumen Radev

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Records

Radev's record is political and military rather than cultural. He is the first Bulgarian to hold both the presidency and the premiership, a constitutional first that no predecessor managed in the modern era. He won two presidential elections, the second with 66 percent of the runoff vote, and then led his new party to an absolute majority within months of founding it. His military record includes command of the Bulgarian Air Force and more than 1,400 flight hours as a MiG-29 instructor and demonstration pilot. He has been the subject of an ARTE documentary, Bulgaria: Who Is Rumen Radev?, and is a regular subject of profile treatment in The Guardian, Politico, Euronews and Reuters.

AwardsRadev's decorations are primarily military and state. He holds the rank of Major General, is a First Class pilot, a MiG-29 instructor and demonstration pilot, and has received Bulgarian military honours associated with his command of the Air Force. He has not received entertainment-industry awards.

Honours & Distinctions

Major General

Bulgarian Air Force·2014

Promoted to the rank while serving as Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force.

First Class Pilot

Bulgarian Air Force

Military qualification recognizing his flight status.

MiG-29 Instructor and Demonstration Pilot

Bulgarian Air Force

Qualified to instruct and fly demonstration sorties in the MiG-29.

Records & Feats

First Bulgarian to serve as both President and Prime Minister

Historic First·2026

Radev completed a nine-year presidency in January 2026 and became prime minister later that year, a first in Bulgaria's modern history.