We expect the European Public Prosecutor's Office to investigate the case of Teodora Georgieva and to reach the truth.
This was stated to the Bulgarian National Radio by Judge Atanas Atanasov, chairman of the Union of Judges in Bulgaria (SUB), in connection with the case of Bulgarian European Prosecutor Teodora Georgieva.
"In recent months, there have been suspicions about the activities of groups that influence the judicial system, including the way in which staffing is carried out there. These groups were known by the names of the persons who are alleged to have led them - Martin Bozanov-Notary and Petyo Petrov-Evroto. It was not clarified what these groups did and what their influence was. It turned out that at the moment we have doubts that one of these groups has reached there with its power, that it has also influenced the appointment of a Bulgarian prosecutor in the European Prosecutor's Office.
Sweeping away is not a way to solve problems, he was categorical.
On April 2, the Union of Judges in Bulgaria issued a letter to the President of the 51st National Assembly, the Supreme Judicial Council and the European Prosecutor General, which states:
"The Union of Judges in Bulgaria notes another case in which doubts about the functioning of centers for exercising illegitimate power have become public knowledge, which now affect not only the judiciary in Bulgaria, but also the activities of the European Prosecutor's Office in its assigned functions to lead criminal prosecution and to raise and defend charges before national courts for crimes affecting the financial interests of the European Union. The data on alleged attempts to exert pressure and influence on the European Prosecutor for Bulgaria Teodora Georgieva in connection with her work, along with the publication of video recordings and allegations that assistance was provided for her appointment to her current position by Petyo Petrov, currently wanted under a European Arrest Warrant, nicknamed Euroto, require a categorical clarification by the relevant competent authorities, which should also provide the public with the necessary information on the case…
We also call on Prosecutor Teodora Georgieva herself to provide full information on whether she had contacts with Petyo Petrov, on what occasion, which other persons participated in such contacts, as well as to disclose all information known to her about the possibilities of exerting pressure on magistrates, including members of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, in order for the relevant activity to be successfully investigated and punished. Finally, although the situation constitutes a precedent and may negatively affect the work of the institution, we also call on the European Public Prosecutor's Office to disclose the necessary amount of information to dispel the dissemination of speculative allegations in the public domain. We believe that such information could be provided on the issues of what actions or under what proceedings, if there is public data, the administrative investigation against Ms. Teodora Georgieva was initiated, on what principles the publicly disseminated recordings will be assessed, if they will be valued at all, and how magistrates, including those from the European Public Prosecutor's Office, can be protected from the unlawful use of such recordings.
The truth must be reached, because this is the only way to protect the judicial system, emphasized Judge Atanasov:
"This is an unprecedented case in which a European Prosecutor has been removed. ... This affects the functioning of the European Public Prosecutor's Office itself and calls into question the exercise of its powers. The authority of the Bulgarian judiciary has once again been called into question. We cannot expect trust in the judiciary when we see such scandals and when they are not clarified".
Atanasov once again emphasized the call of the SSB Teodora Georgieva to speak out on the case.
"Only she can confirm the meeting from the recording, because the other participant - Petyo Petrov-Evroto - is missing".