site.btaSupreme Judicial Council Opens Disciplinary Proceedings Against Judge Dian Vasilev

The Judges Chamber of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) opened disciplinary proceedings against Dian Vasilev, a judge at the Sofia Regional Administrative Court, the SJC press office said on Tuesday.

A disciplinary panel consisting of Tsvetinka Pashkunova, Boyan Magdalinchev and Boyan Novanski, the last of whom will serve as chair and reporting member, was selected by lot.

The proceedings were initiated following a proposal by former caretaker Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov.

According to the proposal, while serving as acting chair of the Ruse Administrative Court, Vasilev acted as an intermediary in an alleged attempt by SJC Judges Chamber member Dragomir Koyadzhikov to exert improper influence on judge Ivaylo Yosifov in connection with the procedure for selecting the head of the Ruse Administrative Court.

According to information made public, Vasilev told Yosifov to withdraw from the competition, conveying a message allegedly on behalf of Koyadzhikov that he would not receive support during the SJC vote. The conversation also allegedly included suggestions that the outcome of the procedure had already been decided and warnings of negative consequences if Yosifov refused.

Yosifov later said he intended to disclose the case publicly during his hearing before the Judicial Chamber and file a complaint with the State Agency for National Security. According to the proposal, Vasilev subsequently attempted to downplay the conversation and discourage his colleague from reporting the case to the authorities.

The proposal states that whether Vasilev actually spoke with Koyadzhikov or fabricated the conversation himself, his actions either made him an intermediary for improper influence or amounted to intrigue and misconduct.

According to Yankulov, Vasilev violated key principles of the Code of Ethical Conduct for Bulgarian judges, including obligations to resist external pressure, prevent misconduct and uphold integrity and professional ethics.