For the first time the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) – the highest judicial body – is discussing the early termination of the powers of a prosecutor general. The request for the dismissal of Ivan Geshev was referred to the SJC a week ago by Justice Minister Yanaki Stoilov after receiving a report by Minister of the Interior Boyko Rashkov.

In over 100 pages of motives, Minister Rashkov substantiates his claims that Ivan Geshev’s actions have reflected adversely on the prestige of the judiciary and are a violation of the magistrates’ code of ethics. According to Boyko Rashkov the prosecutor general has wrongfully made public data obtained by special intelligence means, including a conversation between the president and the commander of the Bulgarian air force. Particular attention is given to the prosecutor’s office operation inside the presidency building after which the anti-government protests broke out last year.

Ivan Geshev described the report as “a big nothing” from a legal point of view, and pointed out that in his term of office, for the first time, charges have been brought against a sitting minister. He also made mention of “frozen money” - assets amounting to over 3 billion Leva.

Meanwhile a protest is taking place in front of the Sofia Court House in Sofia organized by BOEC civil movement which promised to submit more than 8,000 signatures under a petition for the removal of the prosecutor general from office.