The SJC dismissed Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev early from his post

The Plenum of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) voted to dismiss Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev early from his position on a proposal made by four members of the Prosecutor's College. It was because of a statement that harmed the prestige of the judiciary. During a press conference on May 15, the Attorney General used the phrase "political trash."

16 members of the council voted "for" the removal of Ivan Geshev, while four - Veronika Imova, Olga Kerelska, Plamen Naydenov and Evgeni Ivanov - were against, Dir.bg reported.

The vote took place in the absence of the Prosecutor General, who left the meeting to travel to Strasbourg.

Now the Supreme Judicial Council will send the proposal to President Rumen Radev for the issuance of a decree. However, the head of state does not have a deadline to do this.

"The procedure itself presupposes a quick judgment of the head of state. The proceedings before the Constitutional Court, and the case has not yet been admitted, is not a reason for the president to stop the procedure. Even more, I do not think that the reason to stop such a procedure is valid, because it is entirely in the judicial power. There are sufficient grounds for the release of Ivan Geshev," Minister of Justice Atanas Slavov explained to journalists after the session of the SJC.

In his words, the procedure for the removal of accuser No. 1 is practically non-appealable. Ivan Geshev took office as the chief prosecutor in mid-December 2020. His term of office is seven years.

It took two sittings for the judicial officers to get to the vote.

 

The first session of the SJC on the removal of accuser No. 1 lasted 14 hours. It was attended by Deputy Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov, Deputy Director of the National Prosecutor's Office Yasen Todorov, Marcela Pantaleeva, senior expert of the Public Communication Directorate of the Prosecutor General's Office.

 

Today, the debates lasted for 10 hours, and Deputy Prosecutor General Daniela Masheva was also heard.

 

The release of Ivan Geshev came about after, in her program speech even before the formation of a government between GERB-SDS and PP-DB, Maria Gabriel, as a candidate for Prime Minister at the time, stated that the first point in the work of the Ministry of Justice will be the removal of the chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev, recalls BNR.

 

Geshev took office as chief prosecutor at the beginning of 2020. His term of office is seven years. In order for him to be removed from office, it is necessary for the SJC to send the head of state a decision and for him to sign a decree of dismissal from the position of "Chief Prosecutor".