Supreme Judicial Council discusses the call of the Union of Judges for opening a procedure for dismissal of Prosecutor General

The Supreme Judicial Council on October 22 is discussing the call of the Union of Judges to initiate a procedure for terminating the term of office of the Prosecutor General and the declaration of the Association of Prosecutors in Defense of Ivan Geshev. The debate was marked by sharp remarks, and at the beginning of the hearing the Prosecutor General explained why he would not participate in the discussion.

One of Ivan Geshev's motives for refusing to take part in the debate is that, according to him, there are judgments and comments in the position of the Union of Judges "with an element of political overtones and only an attempt to dress in legal arguments". In addition, the Prosecutor General stressed that most of the questions had already been answered, both by sending answers to the LIBE Committee in the European Parliament by the Prosecutor’s Office, and during his hearing before the National Assembly last week. Ivan Geshev made it clear that he does not accept the thesis that he puts the victims of crimes in an unequal position because of meeting elderly people who have become victims of abuse

"I am not ashamed to meet with people who wre subject to a crime. On the contrary, the Prosecutor's office is doing its job and the state is indebted to the elderly," said Ivan Geshev, chief prosecutor.

"This is about the Prosecutor General and his actions, which provoked tension throughout the country. Therefore, when Geshev's resignation has been demanded for 3 months, with this unprecedented EP resolution, I think that the SJC's reaction to this important issue is too late," said Lozan Panov, chairman of the Supreme Court of Cassation.

"It is not clear to me which these interviews are and to whom they were given. Separate words were taken from 5 sentences of the chief prosecutor and then put together, apparently for the purpose of manipulation," said Yordan Stoev, SJC.

The beginning of the day was marked by a protest by the civic movement "Bulgaria United for One Goal" ("BOETS"), which came in front of the SJC building to demand the resignation of the chief prosecutor..Hristo Ivanov was also present.

"Everything that Ivan Geshev did led to an unprecedented crisis and an unprecedented blow to the Bulgarian judiciary, including internationally and at European level. I cannot imagine what more reasons are needed for a magistrate to be disciplined." said the leader of "Democratic Bulgaria" Hristo Ivanov.