site.btaDemocratic Bulgaria Urges Disciplinary Action against Sarafov before Resignation

Representatives of Democratic Bulgaria called on Bulgaria’s Supreme Judicial Council to complete disciplinary proceedings against former National Investigative Service head Borislav Sarafov before formally accepting his resignation.

Sarafov asked to be relieved of the top office at the National Investigative Service on Wednesday.

Speaking in parliament, MP Atanas Slavov argued that officials who have held senior positions in the prosecution service for years and are being probed for irregularities, should not be allowed to leave office with substantial severance pay without facing disciplinary accountability.

Slavov said Democratic Bulgaria would propose extending the statute of limitations for disciplinary proceedings to two years in such cases.

According to him, individuals facing ongoing disciplinary investigations should not be permitted to exit the judicial system with severance packages, a practice he said has occurred repeatedly in recent years.

Democratic Bulgaria deputy floor leader Bozhidar Bozhanov drew parallels with the case of former investigator Petyo Petrov, widely known as "Petyo Euroto,” who left the system with a hefty severance package equal to 20 monthly wages, even though disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him. Bozhanov said the Supreme Judicial Council must put an end to such practices and ensure accountability within the judiciary.