Bulgaria - June 2023

President Rumen Radev has approved the Supreme Justice Council’s (SJC) decision to dismiss the country’s top prosecutor, Ivan Geshev, halfway through his seven-year term. The decision follows a remark by Geshev, in which he referred to members of parliament opposing him as “political garbage”. SJC ruled that his remarks breached the Code of Ethical Behaviour of Bulgarian Magistrates and damaged the reputation of the judiciary. Civil society and the opposition have criticized Geshev for undermining judicial reforms due to close ties with politicians implicated in corruption and his failure to address high-profile corruption cases and money-laundering allegations against former prime minister Boyko Borisov and his allies. However, experts have said that the removal of Geshev is not an indication of judicial reform, but of a highly politicized judiciary.

Sources: Dnevnik, Nova, Balkan Insight, Politico, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Bulgaria)