site.btaProsecutors' Chamber Ethics Commission Seeks Information on Sofia City Prosecutor Emilia Rusinova

The Ethics Commission at the Prosecutors' Chamber of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) opened proceedings on its own initiative following media reports concerning the head of the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office, Emilia Rusinova, and requested information from the competent authorities, the SJC press office said on Thursday.

The Ethics Commission held an extraordinary meeting on the case on Wednesday, April 1. Information was requested from the relevant authorities regarding actions taken and any available data related to the media reports.

A few days ago Interior Minister Emil Dechev announced that in 2021 Rusinova crossed the border with North Macedonia at Zlatarevo in the same vehicle as fraud suspect Petyo "the Euro" Petrov. Subsequently, the Justice Ministry requested information from the Interior Ministry in order to assess whether there are grounds to propose to the SJC the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against Rusinova.

Petyo "the Euro" Petrov, who has gone missing, is being tried in absentia for large-scale document fraud. The case against him was opened on July 28, 2021. According to the prosecution, between October 11, 2019, and March 23, 2020, by using forged documents, Petrov unlawfully obtained movable property with the intent to appropriate it — namely 147 coins with a total value of BGN 106,763 and a 23.88-carat gold bar weighing a kilo, worth BGN 109,718, owned by Yavor Zlatanov, as well as a sum of EUR 550,000, equivalent to BGN 1,085,485.65, owned by Yulia Zlatanova, Yavor Zlatanov and Proletina Zlatanova.

On February 25, 2025, the prosecution requested that the court issue a European arrest warrant for Petrov. The court granted the request. According to Judge Miroslav Georgiev, the case is publicly known and Petrov's failure to appear leads to the conclusion that he is in hiding.

On February 18, the Prosecutors' Chamber of the SJC elected Emilia Rusinova as head of the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office. Until then, she had held the position in an acting capacity for nine months. Rusinova was elected with eight votes in favour and none against.